Senate GOP leaders take heat over millions of dollars in earmarks

The Hill ^ | 12/15/10 11:45 AM ET | Alexander Bolton

[BradtotheBone]

Senate Republican leaders are taking heat for millions of dollars worth of earmarks they requested in a $1.1 trillion spending package on deck for passage this month.

GOP Policy Committee Chairman John Thune (S.D.) and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) convened a Wednesday morning press conference to criticize Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for trying to speed the package through the Senate before Christmas.

But Thune and Cornyn faced a barrage of hostile questions about their earmarks by reporters from NPR, ABC News and NBC News.

“Going through this bill, there is earmark after earmark from the both of you, millions of dollars in earmarks from the two of you and from other senators,” ABC’s Jonathan Karl told Cornyn and Thune. “How do you have any credibility on this? Why do you have earmarks?”

Cornyn said he had credibility on the issue because he plans to vote against the omnibus spending bill.

“If people have concerns about what’s in the bill, we ought to be given an opportunity to offer amendments to strip those out and I’m happy to have that process done,” Cornyn said.

Taxpayers for Common Sense, a non-partisan group that tracks federal spending, said that Cornyn secured $750,000 for a drinking water project in Midland, Texas; $800,000 for a stormwater mitigation project in Nacogdoches, Texas; $500,000 for a street improvement project in downtown Denton, Texas, among other projects.

“The simple answer is I’m going to vote against the bill and refuse all of those earmarks,” said Cornyn.

But that answer didn’t satisfy some members of the Capitol press corps.

[radioone]

“Cornyn said he had credibility on the issue because he plans to vote against the omnibus spending bill.” Just another politician talking out of both sides of his mouth at once. He probably knows it will pass. To the Conservative voters he can say he voted against it, and to the recipients
of the money, they thank him for the earmark and hold a fundraiser. See how easy it is to be politician. SCUM!!!!

[Portcall24]

You ever hear the term “Cowboy Up”?

It’s so disappointing not one cowboy in all the GOP. I’d expect this from the children that need and want government nannies, but the freshman GOP?

[Mr. Jeeves]

Funny how the GOP is willing to take heat for spending, but are afraid to endure “political dangers” by resisting efforts to reduce carbon dioxide in fraudulent GoreBull Warming fleecing.

They are just doing what their constituents contributors want them to do. Democracy in action.

[Irenic]

They’re afraid the bill will pass without enough bacon for their own constituents lobbyist

[dirtboy]

but the freshman GOP?

The freshmen aren't seated yet. I have a feeling the old guard is having one last spree before the freshmen arrive and have to be negotiated with.

[556x45]

Would agree to a point but the electorate sucks most. That the pols do pretty much as they please and lie w/o end about it is prima facia evidence that the electorate is the problem. We fall for the lies and hubris every single time w/o missing a beat. Until we take our responsibilities seriously the beatings will continue.

[GretchenB]

Remember all the RINOs Cornyn backed in 2010 - including the disgraced Charlie Crist of Florida!

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

click on image

[Mind-numbed Robot]

... the electorate is the problem.

We can only choose among those who are running. Did you run for any office? Did you win? Why not?

One of the key reasons the Democrats practice the politics of personal destruction is to scare off good people who might otherwise run for office.

I repeat, we can only choose among the candidates who run so I don't see us being at fault.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

If Thomas Jefferson were still alive, he would take our current constitutionally illiterate elected officials to the woodshed for spending Federal Tax dollars on programs that are 99.9999% State and not federal responsibility.

State or local. You are 100% right and you are the first I have seen or heard bring that up. It is far more important than earmarks by themselves and would basically eliminate earmarks were that point hammered home.

Keep up the good work and educate us all.

[556x45]

The electorate IS the problem. You can try to talk it away if you like but the bottom line is the buck stops w/ us. Your ‘argument’ isnt convincing...its why so many here voted for McCain knowing he wasn’t presidential material. I won’t say the same for the libs b/c they truly thought Jug Ears was a demigod.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

My friend, I am sorry my argument did not convince you. Will you please relieve me of my ignorance and explain to me how I can vote for someone other than those running. Should I try to draft a candidate by writing in their name? Given the slim chance that would have of being successful, even if it were what if they refused to serve after we chose them?

I eagerly await the benefit of your erudition.

[I_be_tc]

Joe, I am with you on this. I keep telling people I think the Demi’s are going to go over the cliff and the Pubbies will take their place as the left. Then a new party, like you I call it the Conservative Party, will be the new right.

[Theodore R.]

The problem is that in TX so many of the Republicans are basically on the left, but the voters don’t know that. Therefore conservatives vote for them, and liberals criticize them even though they often deliver the liberal goodies.