37-27.
It wouldn’t be a blowout in a football game, but that score certainly raises the question of whether or not one S.C. politician is playing for the right team up in Washington D.C.
Looked at from our cheap seats, when the Senior Republican Senator from the “most Republican State in America” request more earmarks than the Democratic Majority Whip, something’s gone terribly, terribly wrong with the GOP.
And when those requests becomes public knowledge scarcely a week after that same Senator blasted President Barack Obama for not standing his ground on earmark reform … well, somebody’s become terribly, terribly hypocritical.
With the exception of U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and Rep. Joe Wilson, every Republican member of the S.C. Congressional delegation requested earmarks in the current federal pork-a-pallooza – including gubernatorial candidate Gresham Barrett, who wants nearly $1 million for a “Cellulosic Biofuel Plant” for Clemson University.
But Sen. Lindsey Graham had the most requests, surprise surprise.
Interestingly enough, one of Graham’s earmark requests was even bashed by former GOP presidential candidate John McCain, who “tweeted” on it yesterday without realizing Graham had sponsored it.
The funniest earmark request of them all isn’t from South Carolina, though.
It’s Iowa’s $1.7 million request to study pig odor.
“You hold your breath and when it’s really bad you get the taste in your mouth,” one of the corn-feds told MSNBC.
We know what you mean, dude.
All told, Washington politicians from all 50 states inserted nearly 9,000 earmarks totaling $7.7 billion into the appropriations bill.
Obama promised to veto earmark-laden legislation during his campaign, but has since changed his tune and said he would sign the bill.
Smell that pig odor yet?
By Ken March 7, 2009 at 7:00 am
Sen Nancy Graham is a disgrace to thinking people of SC. Oh wait, evidently, there are not many of us. Opps, my bad.
By Old Bike Dude March 7, 2009 at 7:58 am
Sic…Wanna know why Demint and Wilson offerred no earmarks. Clyburn covered their ass. Don’t worry, their constituents will get their share of the pork.
By lou March 7, 2009 at 8:24 am
expect the money. everybody gives little lindsey what he wants. they don’t wanna hear him whine.
By James the Foot Soldier March 7, 2009 at 10:22 am
Are they gonna slap some lipstick on her?
By BIN News Editorial Staff March 7, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Foot Fungus seems really into lipstick. Got a fetish, Fungus?
By Ron March 7, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Uncle Strom would turn over in his grave if he knew this “light in the loafers” piece of crap took his chair in the US Senate.
By Cooter Brown March 7, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Scalawag!!!
By James the Foot Soldier March 7, 2009 at 8:53 pm
actaully i’ve developed a foot fetish – just in time for the warmer weather ;)
By jan blotchsky March 7, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Anyone suprised?
By Statesman March 7, 2009 at 11:55 pm
“The most republican state in the nation” votes based on whether there is a D or an R after the name instead of the actual issues. I miss the old “Southern Democrats (Conservative)”!
By medstudent March 8, 2009 at 11:07 am
Ron, Strom was great at earmarks, bringing money back home to SC. He and Fritz were renowned for it.
And of course Lindsey will (& should) request more earmarks, as a senator, he’s responsible for the entire state, not just a congressional district as clyburn is.
By todd March 8, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Earmarks = big $$$$$
Is this why Hall is spending so much $$$$ to try to win the SCGOP chair?
Wake up in blogland.
By k.m. March 11, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Don’t a large number of scientific advancements come from fed. grants to universities? (computer advancements, for ex., that were later beneficial to businesses, etc.) IMO important for bloggers to take the time to read bills rather than to condemn all appropriations — also known as ‘pork’ or ‘earmarks’, particularly if you’re not fond of certain ones — across the board.
Certain ones are, no doubt, hogwash; but others have real value. Anyone in favor of the lazy approach and who wants to do away with all of them is throwing the baby away with the bathwater.
By fitsnews March 11, 2009 at 4:24 pm
K.M.-
You think regular reporters read the bills? Or better yet the lawmakers who vote on them?
Puh-leeze.
Get off a blogger’s arse …
-FITS
By Anonymous July 20, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Perhaps if the United States Senate and House had a Rule 24 provision similar to that of the SC Senate, then there would be no earmarks. Rule 24 prohibits attachments onto bills whose subject matters aren’t “germane” to the original bill.