Rep. Don Young (R-AK), proud sponsor the “Bridge to Nowhere” earmark, has been named a “Hero of the American Taxpayer” by a coalition of Beltway anti-tax groups — Americans for Tax Reform, American Shareholders Association, Alliance for Worker Freedom, and the 60 Plus Association.
Actually, “coalition” might be too strong a term. The American Shareholders Association and the Alliance for Worker Freedom are actually projects of lobbyist Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform.  Only the 60 Plus Association seems to be even nominally inependent from Norquist — who seems far more interested in Young’s decent record on taxes, while ignoring that Young is a master of the pork-barrel that lubricates federal spending, increases our debt and builds up demand for more taxes.
Jon Henke notes that Young is currently under investigation by the FBI and the House for possible bribery and alteration of an earmark after passage. Henke also collects some of Young’s greatest hits — including his declaration that he would support a tax hike to pay for even more pork. Rob Bluey, calling Young an “Earmarxist,” notes that the National Taxpayers’ Union gave Young a mere 55% rating. Young is squarely of the old school that believes pork bordering on the corrupt is a ticket to reelection, even though he is currently behind in an intraparty primary challenge from Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell.
Pork and ethics were two issues that hit the GOP hard in the 2006 midterm elections. It appears that some of the Beltway GOP establishment has yet to learn that the times, they are a-changin’.
Pork is an aesthetic problem way more than an economic issue. The math of fiscal policy confirms this. Not that aesthetics aren’t important, but I really don’t see any paradox or whatever here.
Go Parnell!
I agree on the Parnell thing. Primary challenges are beautiful things. More please.
When are we all going to wake up and realize that these criminals on BOTH sides of the aisle long ago decided that all they care about is gaining power and lining their own pockets?
I can’t think of a single US Congressman right now that doesn’t completely disgust me.
hf,
Pork is a small part of the federal budget, but it’s log-rolling that helps ease through the really nasty stuff.
Karl did you realize you typed CHANGE? Did it leave you with a bad taste in your mouth?
That is a very good point, Karl.
PH,
I have to type change a lot, mostly to describe what O! is doing now that he suckered enough people like you into supporting him.
Define criminals please??? Basically everyone elected tries to look out for their constituents that will keep electing them to their job. It is not just some po-dunk rep or senator that grabs the pork, in fact it is the usually the long term thinking politicians that would like to keep their careers. I don’t care what most individuals do for a living; a job is a job and you want to do what it takes to keep it. If people in FL or CA are pissed, then you don’t care because they don’t vote for you. That is why I truly admire people in the gov’t or private sector that go to work because they truly enjoy and believe what they do regardless of publicity or money.
It is sad, and that is why it is hard to find people who will truly do a good job ethically that will try to run — a lot of them are killed by the media (which is sacred and can’t be touched) if the money doesn’t come back home…
Sorry for the babbling but it kinda hit a hot spot.
Get money out of politics. Make the federal gov tiny.
I’ll second that motion, and call the question.
“I’ll second that motion, and call the question”
Do O! blonds have more fun?
Are O! blonds named Hussein?
As an associate with the Alliance for Worker Freedom, I would like to note that Don Young did not receive the “Guardian of Worker Freedom” award from AWF. Bill Young (R-FL), however, did receive this award.