There has been a long held myth by the Republican Party that they are more conservative than there Democratic counterparts. They depend on this myth to get them elected in times of economic strife and they depend, as they do on many other issues, on the ignorance and the fear they try to offer to the great people of America in place of real solutions.
Case in point…Earmarks.
Despite what the Republicans would like to tell you, earmarks, a true mark of the “out of control liberal spending” that Far right wingers try to make us fear, is nearly monopolozed by the Republican Party.
Here is a list of the Republicans in the Senate that have more earmarks than Democratic Nominee Senator Obama. Keep in mind that since the Republicans no longer have the majority, there earmarks are substantially lower than 2006.
1. Senator Chocran, Miss. 837 Million
2. Senator Spector, Penn. 218 Million
3. Senator Shelby, Alabama 427 Million
4. Senator Stevens, Alaska 456 Million
5. Senator Bond, Missouri 454 Million
6. Senator Dominici, New Mexico 246 Million
7. Senator Grassley, Iowa 323 Million
8. Senator Hutchinson, Texas 254 Million
9. Senator Warner, Virginia 252 Million
10. Senator Vitter, Louisanna, 233 Million
11. Senator Smith, Oregon, 151 Million
12. Senator Chambliss, Georgia 167 Million
13. Senator Dole, North Carolina 147 Million
14. Senator Voinovich, Ohio 162 Million
15. Senator Lugar, Indiana, 130 Million
16. Senator Inhofe, Oklahoma 146 Million
17. Senator Bennett, Utah 137 Million
18. Senator Coleman, Minnesota, 172 Million
19. Senator Craig, Idaho 137 Million
20. Senator Isakson, Georgia 160 Million
21. Senator Burr, North Carolina, 116 Million
22. Senator Martinez, Florida 128 Million
23. Senator Coryn, Texas 154 Million
24. Senator McConnel, Kentucky 185 Million
25. Senator Collins, Maine 131 Million
26. Senator Crapo, Idaho, 121 Million
27. Senator Snowe, Maine, 120 Million
28. Senator Allard, Colorado, 100 Million
29. Senator Hatch, Utah, 131 Million
30. Senator Sessions, Alabama, 213 Million
31. Senator Thune, South Dakota, 168 Million
32. Senator Alexander, Tenn. , 124 Million
33. Senator Grahm, South Carolina, 103 Million
34. Senator Ensign, Nevada, 103 Million
Along with three Congressional Republicans that are spending above Senator Obama's 98 Million in earmarks.
Sorry about the long post DMDem, but this needed to be said…
PS.. Tom Latham Ranks 15th in all of congress in Earmarks and Steve King is spending more than “Liberal” Democratic Congressman Bobby Rush of Illinois.
Source: http://www.governmentguide.com/congressorg/power_rankings/power_cats.tt?cat=E&submit.x=3&submit.y=9
5 Comments
no one ever needs to apologize
for writing a long post around here!
I welcome diaries like this.
Yes, the Republican Party is hypocritical when it comes to “big government” spending.
desmoinesdem Sun 24 Aug 12:26 PM
Fiscal Irresposibility
When Jimmy Carter left office the Federal Debt was just under one trillion dollars. When Reagan left office the federal debt was up to three trillion. For all his BS about wanting a constitutional amendment to balance the budget up until then he was the biggest spender. When King George the first left off the federal debt ballooned to just a shade over 5 trillion dollars. In 1993 Bill Clinton took office. In 1996 the debt hit a hig of 5.7 trillion. But Clinton focused like a lazer beam balanced the budget and the federal debt started to go down. When Clinton left office the federal debt dropped to 5.4 trillion. Before Clinton the last balanced budget was in 1966 under Lyndon Johnston. Now with King George the Worst the debt is now over 9 Trillion.
We won’t get any meaningful tax releaf until the federal debt is paid off as the interest payments alone are about 340 billion dollars a year.
According to records from the GAO since 1946 for every dollar of federal debt a Democratic administration has added to the debt. The Republicans presidents have add $2.99.
Two democratic presidents Johnston and Clinton gave us balanced budgets. The republicans give us huge defeicts.
If you want to bankrupt America then vote Republican.
keith-nichols Sun 24 Aug 9:50 PM
wow
Thank’s for the stats! I love having hard data to tell people, especially on calls or canvasing… thanks for doing the research.
johnnyschad Tue 26 Aug 10:15 AM
facts
I love throwing facts and hard data at people. If the Democrats would just stick to the facts they would never loose.
keith-nichols Tue 26 Aug 6:39 PM
have to disagree with you there
because the Republicans are great at telling good stories. They might not be consistent with the facts, but a lot of people get taken in by a good story, and the GOP builds strong narratives against our candidates too often.
desmoinesdem Fri 29 Aug 12:47 AM