Representative Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) might want to have a talk with some of her caucus members. Bachmann founded the House of Representatives Tea Party Caucus because she said Americans were fed up with government over-spending.

 

But many of those in the Tea Party caucus—38 out of 58 members, to be exact—didn’t have a problem requesting earmarks in fiscal year 2010 that totaled $1.05 billion. Bachmann was not one of the spenders.

 

“It’s disturbing to see the Tea Party Caucus requested that much in earmarks. This is their time to put up or shut up, to be blunt,” David Williams, vice president for policy at Citizens Against Government Waste, told National Journal’s Hotline on Call. “There’s going to be a huge backlash if they continue to request earmarks.”

 

Among the caucus members, Representative Denny Rehberg (R-Montana) had his name on the most earmarks: 88. This total included individual funding requests (20) and another 68 he co-signed with Montana’s Democratic Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester, at a cost of $100.5 million.

 

Other big spenders were Republicans Robert Aderholt of Alabama who attached his name to 69 earmarks, for a total of $78.3 million; Rob Bishop of Utah (47 projects, $94.0 million), Rodney Alexander of Louisiana (41 projects, $65.4 million); Todd Tiahrt of Kansas (39 projects, $63.4 million) and Gregg Harper of Mississippi (25 projects, $80.4 million).

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Tea Party Caucus Takes $1 Billion In Earmarks (by Reid Wilson, National Journal)