Posted on 05/09/2010 8:00:40 AM PDT by Zakeet
Democratic Rep. Alan Mollohan has delivered for his West Virginia district for nearly three decades — steering millions of dollars in projects that have helped an anemic economy.
But such earmarking by a powerful member of the House Appropriations Committee has drawn scrutiny and stirred the anti-Washington fervor coursing through this year's elections. Suddenly, Mollohan is facing his toughest challenge, his first contested primary since 1998.
His rival in Tuesday's primary is state Sen. Mike Oliverio, who has criticized the agenda of President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. In a state where Republican presidential nominee John McCain won handily in 2008, that criticism has helped the 46-year-old financial adviser attract the support of some of West Virginia's tea party supporters as well as former Mollohan allies.
[Snip]
Mollohan, 66, chairman of a House Appropriations subcommittee, was first elected to Congress in 1982, winning a seat that had been held by his father.
He's campaigned on his ability to deliver federal funds to the 20-county district that borders Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania and includes West Virginia University in Morgantown. He has steered an estimated $480 million there from 1995 to 2006, according to the nonprofit Citizens Against Government Waste.
These earmarks, particularly those that benefited nonprofit organizations, prompted an investigation that also examined the rapid growth of Mollohan's personal wealth.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
A corrupt pork-roller who inherited his daddy's congressional seat and is now wealthy despite having never held a private sector job ... the quintessential Rat hack ... about to be laid low by the $*#$($# Tea Party Members.
Even if his primary challenger loses, the fight will leave him with less money to fight off the Republican in November.
Only in the last paragraph does the author gloss over the allegations of corruption.
I’m thinking the folks back home may be paying more attemtion than the reporter.
This district actually borders mine. Good-bye Mallohan. Don’t let the door kick you on the way out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.