The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has been tracking House Republicans who try to take credit for provisions in the economic stimulus or 2009 omnibus spending bill, even after voting against both measures.
I had a feeling that Iowa's Tom Latham (IA-04) and Steve King (IA-05) would play this game, and they proved me right this week.
More details are after the jump.
First up is Latham, whose brazenness was documented in this DCCC press release from March 12:
In a striking example of hypocrisy, after voting against the recently enacted FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations, Congressman Tom Latham is taking credit for millions of dollars included in the legislation that will help local community colleges, health care clinics, and renewable energy producers in Iowa's 4th Congressional District.
"Congressman Latham keeps telling people he `secured' millions of dollars in funding for Iowa, but the truth is he voted against these investments," said Gabby Adler, the Midwestern Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Congressman Latham can't hide from his voting record, no matter how hard he tries. Counter to what Congressman Latham would have you believe, these millions of dollars aren't coming to Iowa because of his hard work, these investments are being made in spite of Congressman Latham's efforts to defeat this bill and the funding for Iowa."
In every single press release sent out by Congressman Latham announcing investments for Iowa included in the FY 2009 Appropriations, he not only hid the fact he voted against the legislation but he led people to believe he championed its passage. One release read Congressman Latham "once again this past week demonstrated his commitment to community colleges," another one discussed his role as a "long-time supporter" of new health care technologies. In a third release, Congressman Latham even referred to his support of Iowa's renewable energy industry as "steadfast" despite his vote against $1.4 million for a cutting edge wind energy project in Iowa.
I posted the rest of the DCCC's release, which contains further details about the earmarks Latham voted against but is now taking credit for, at Bleeding Heartland.
Soon after, an alert Bleeding Heartland reader informed me that Representative Steve King (IA-05) has been up to the same tricks. King's office issued an upbeat statement about $570,000 included in the economic stimulus bill that will go toward widening U.S. Highway 20 in a rural area of northwest Iowa. Of course, the statement did not mention that King voted against the stimulus. Nor did the brief news item in the Sioux City Journal.
I can't say I'm surprised. During last year's campaign King repeatedly misled voters about his role in securing money to widen Highway 20 (see here and here).
The two-faced Republican position on earmarks is truly sickening.
Can anything be done about these jokers? It pains me to report that King is in a safe district, which will remain solidly Republican after the 2010 census even though Iowa will lose one of our five Congressional districts.
Latham's case is a bit more complicated. He may feel secure in IA-04 for 2010 after receiving more than 60 percent of the vote last November. However, in 2012 he will probably have to run in a redrawn third district, which may not be as friendly as his current turf. For that reason, I have wondered whether voting for some of President Barack Obama's policies would be in Latham's political interest, or whether he would be better off rejecting every significant White House proposal, like most House Republicans.
Apparently Latham plans to have it both ways and hope Iowans don't notice.
Share your own thoughts on Republican weaselry in this thread.