McConnell-Reid Deal Includes $3 Billion Earmark for Kentucky Project

[warrant46]

Last edited Thu Oct 17, 2013, 03:49 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: WPFL Radio News Lousville

A proposal to end the government shutdown and avoid default orchestrated by Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Leader Harry Reid includes a $2 billion earmark for a Kentucky project.

Language in a draft of the McConnell-Reid deal (see page 13, section 123) provided to WFPL News shows a provision that increases funding for the massive Olmsted Dam Lock in Paducah, Ky., from $775 million to nearly $2.9 billion.

Asked about the additional funding in the proposal, McConnell spokesman Robert Steurer directed all questions to lawmakers who worked on the bill directly. "Senators (Diane) Feinstein and (Lamar) Alexander, the chair and ranking member of the energy and water subcommittee, worked on the issue and can help you," he says.

Since 2009, McConnell has been an outspoken supporter of the project, and has been working on getting its funding for some time.

Read more: http://wfpl.org/post/mcconnell-reid-deal-includes-2-billion-earmark-kentucky-project

---

Business as usual

[NYC_SKP]

1. Payoffs to Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul?

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. Not Paul ...

but definitely McConnell ... And I don't have a problem with it.

But it will be an issue in McConnell's primary fight ... and I'm not mad at that, either.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Business as usual??? ...

Ask yourself how is creating (probably) a couple hundred, immediate term jobs, in a McConnell's district (the sole goper that moved the ball in the Senate) a bad thing?

[madrchsod]

3. earmarks greases the political machine.

hell my little town received over 4 million+ dollars in earmarks from a democratic and a republican house critter to improve the streets and waterfront around the statue of reagan.

[ffr]

4. No earmarks for anyone else, not even Reid.

But player McConnell is rewarded for being the extortionist in chief. Yippie!

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. Come on ...

McConnell was being rewarded for shooting the guy/gal that was protecting the extortionist that is holding the gun on the hostage.

[RussBLib]

32. it also benefits Carl Levin's (D-IL) state

Levin was sure to say he didn't ask for it. And Reid was ready with an "explanation" for it. I didn't think it was a very good explanation, but I don't have that much of a problem with earmarks anyway. (except when people who rail AGAINST them get caught TAKING them)

[indepat]

6. If it looks like pure de shit, smells like pure de shit, and clumps like pure de

shit, chances are it's pure de shit. Glad Dems did not cave in to extortion by accepting a dirty, shitty, and smelly CR.

[doc03]

8. But but I thought Republicans were against earmarks, never mind n/t

[Doctor_J]

14. They're for them, as long as they don't go to urban (black and hispanic) districts

[Fearless]

23. Bingo!

[groundloop]

9. No doubt this is what it took to get the deal done

From what I've been reading it's a very good deal for Democratic interests, and I was wondering why McConnell didn't try putting more repuke demands into the deal. I suppose if this is the bribe that made it all happen, then fine (and I certainly hope someone can find a way to use it against McConnell in the next election).

[former9thward]

30. I doubt bringing jobs to Kentucky will be used against him.

Quite the opposite.

[IADEMO2004]

10. Replundercans at their best.

Bringing home the bacon. Way to go Mitch.

[Flatpicker]

11. That's almost funny

In a sick way.

Perfect for the party of "Fuck you, I've got mine" to see one of their own sell them out for a bribe.

The Turtle Lives...

[Orsino]

12. They get NOTHING*!

Except the conversion of McConnell into a big-government lover of infrastructure projects.

* Results not typical. If symptoms persist, discontinue use and consult your doctor. Closed course. Do not attempt.

[GeorgeGist]

13. Prime pickings for immediate sequester.

Fuck you, Yertle.

[James48]

15. Here is a copy of the joint resolution just passed in the Senate

It is 35 pages long.

I just got it sent to me.

http://aircraftcert.org/Congress/AMENDMENT10-16-13C-Senate.PDF

enjoy.

[Guilded Lilly]

16. Oh, my snarky guess is that McConnell

threw in the condition that Chuck Schumer thank him publically.

It's done for the moment and the Democrats now have shown the Slugs across the aisle and the country that they can stand firm.

Much still to be done, much to fight over, and the fights will be even uglier if you can imagine.
We just can't let anyone forget this come election day.
I'm sure the same wretched slugs will now have it in for McConnell even more. Which keeps them all f'd up inner party, which is a good thing.

Oh, and Cruz *rose up* against the bill? Sit down now, pal, and shut up. You *luz*, Cruz

And, oh yeah, Cory Booker won the Senate seat! Rachel declared it

[Swede Atlanta]

17. This is why I opposed having the Congress get involved....

This should have been a clean up for down vote to

(1) Re-start and restore the functioning of the U.S. government and
(2) Defined extension of the debt limit

We should NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER have agreed to anything else.

I know maybe this was the only way to get there but this stinks of back room politics. I hate it.

[ReRe]

18. The press asked Durbin...

... about the earmark for Illinois. He said Feinstein did it, that he didn't have anything to do with it. I imagine it's for the same thing McConnell got money for... as Ky and Illinois bump up against each other in the far western part of KY.

[chuckstevens]

19. The Mainstream "Media"

The next time Mr. Mumbles opens his fucking pie-whole about the "Democrat Party" and their out of control spending, I'd like to see one responsible journalist point out the hypocrisy of this asshole.

[IronLionZion]

20. So McConnell is a RINO Socialist who takes tax money for infrastructure!!!

This could get him primaried from the right, which seemed likely anyway.

[doc03]

21. I heard McConnell wants the money to build a dam for a turtle pond.

Probably where he will go when he retires.

[alcibiades_mystery]

22. Are we supposed to be against a stimulus-infrastructure project now?

Maybe this dam actually needs, like, ya know, maintenance?

[1StrongBlackMan]

26. And there may be ...

a person or two that might, like, you know, get a job out of this.

[JoeyT]

27. People would be a lot kinder about Republicans getting earmarks for their districts,

for what might be necessary maintenance, if they weren't hell bent on denying what's definitely necessary maintenance for everyone else.

We're supposed to be against hypocrisy. Especially when it's committed by dicks that would gleefully watch bridges collapse and roads crumble in every district but theirs.

[SoapBox]

24. Oh great...the Turtle gets pork.

[kyburbonkid]

25. McConnell Re-election tactic

If anyone understands Kentucky politics, its McConnell. And anyone that know McConnell's successful strategy to win in Ky, it's to win every county west of i65. (west of Louisville). Almost all of the cities are blue in Ky, but Paducah. And McConnell has dumped tons of money into the area via ear marks and the DOE's Gaseous Diffusion plant over the years. Paducah is in the pocket of McConnell and this sound like more of the same tactic. If Paducah can be flipped blue, McConnell will lose re-election. So to see McConnell sneak in a $2 Billion appropriation to Paducah should not be a surprise. He must be desperate.

[gopiscrap]

29. Welcome to DU

[TeamPooka]

35. Can this hurt him with the extreme righties in KY? Welcome to DU

maybe balance it out a little in the west?
Just curious to your opinion.

[Lasher]

28. Linked article title has been edited.

It now reads, "McConnell-Reid Deal Includes $3 Billion Earmark for Kentucky Project" Will you please edit to reflect that?

[warrant46]

33. Edited Thank You !! n/t

[Myrina]

31. And this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023868679

1. Restores funding for LI-HEAP
2. Colorado flood recovery
3. Wildfire recovery
4. Wildfire prevention
5. Ohio River Construction project
6. Payment of $174K owed to former Senator Frank Lautenberg's widow
7. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Boa


I would say Reid got a few goodies for other constituents, too.

[hedgehog]

34. IT'S A TRAP!

Once it was in there, McConnel couldn't take it out lest he rile up people at home. As it is, it looks to the Tea Party like he took some pork barrel in exchange for his vote. He was damned if he did, damned if he didn't!

To top it off - this particular project sounds like it may be necessary to protect downstream areas from floods. Given the record deluges we've been getting, the project may be a literal life saver!

Well played, Mr. Reid, well played!