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Our own Richard Shelby (R) is second on the list of the Senate’s top earmarkers, behind only Robert Byrd (D) of West Virginia. According to a report from Taxpayers at Common Sense (via Politico.com), Shelby brought home over $114 million of federal money to Alabama. Byrd brought almost $123 million to West Virginia.
As points of comparison, #10 on the list, Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), was responsible for over $46 million in earmarking. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) at #20 was responsible for $19.5 million in earmarked funds.
The spending has to stop sometime, and now is the perfect time. Clearly Sen. Shelby has neither the leadership potential nor the desire to slow this Obama train wreck from an eventual disaster. An old saying in the Army is, “if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem.” Sen. Shelby served his useful term long ago. It’s time for him to step aside and allow a new Senator with energy, leadership and vision help guide the nation and Alabama.
not surprising at all
I’d be real curious to know how much of that pork went for the benefit of the many, many contributers and the special interests who fund Shelby’s prodigious warchest. I’m sure there are some in the know folks reading this stuff who know about a few instances of Shelby’s federal largesse benefitting the interests of some of his financial backers. Of course that in and of itself is not illegal (unless you are don siegelman)….
Wait, I thought only Democrats were behind all the wasteful government spending and Republicans were the ones bravely standing tall trying to protect us from rampant socialism. Did Shelby check with Rush before he pushed for these earmarks?
we *hate* when people like Byrd have so much PORK going to their home state … but we don’t seem to mind the earmarks for our home state
hell, look at all the buildings named after Shelby
start in Tuscaloosa, then Auburn, the UAB, then UAH, then…
Typical Shelby. He has been in DC too long. (And I’m a Republican saying that!) Not only is he a prince of pork, but he is a king of shaking down folks for political contributions in a less than discreet way. He is an absolute “you rub my back and I’ll rub yours” politico. I wish Bob Riley could take his place in the U.S. Senate.