Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has given up his political hostages –namely, all of President Barack Obama’s unconfirmed nominees—in exchange for $50,000 to study a key port back home.

 

After learning that his pet project had lost its funding during the recent budget reduction negotiations, Graham threatened to prevent all of the White House’s pending appointments from receiving a confirmation hearing. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) then stepped in and reached a deal with Graham to provide $50,000 for a study on deepening the Port of Charleston, which could lead to a 7-year $350 million project.

 

Graham’s original funding request was not axed by Obama or Senate Democrats, but by House Republicans who considered it an earmark and, thus, expendable.

 

Reid’s solution has changed the wording of Graham’s port-study plan by including Charleston among a dozen harbors around the country eligible for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Showdown Over Port vs. Pork Averted: Graham and Reid Reach Deal (by Susan Crabtree, TalkingPointsMemo)

Sen. Lindsey Graham Blocks Judicial Nominations Over $40,000 in Port Funding (by Felicia Sonmez, Washington Post)