Thursday, February 11, 2010
Se, Bob Bennett (R-Utah)
Melanie Sloan, head of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, in Washington, put it best when she remarked that it’s not a crime to be a hypocrite in Washington, DC. If it were, a lot of lawmakers would be in trouble, especially a dozen Republicans who voted against President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan—only to turn around and ask for the very same money to help their constituents.
“It’s not illegal to talk out of both sides of your mouth, but it does seem to be a level of dishonesty troubling to the American public,” Sloan told The Washington Times, which uncovered through the Freedom of Information Act numerous letters sent by GOP senators and representatives to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies begging for stimulus funds.
Among the lawmakers was Congressman Joe “You Lie” Wilson of South Carolina, who voted against the stimulus but then asked Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for money to aid a foundation.
Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah sent a list of projects to Vilsack two days before he voted against the stimulus bill that would fund the projects.
The other Republicans were Senators Christopher Bond of Missouri, Mike Johanns of Nebraska, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Charles Grassley of Iowa, and Representatives Pat Tiberi of Ohio, John Linder of Georgia and Robert Aderholt of Alabama.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Stimulus Foes See Value in Seeking Cash (by Jim McElhatton, Washington Times)
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