Needless to say, a lot of people aren’t trilled with the “deal” the Republicans in Congress agreed to. Basically, the Senate plan that was later approved by the House, kicks the can down the road and does not give the GOP a victory on much of anything… Except, of course, for the $2 billion Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) secured for his home state.
“Okay. Now, a lot of people are saying the GOP didn't get anything out of this deal. But you are wrong. Dead wrong,” Glenn said on radio this morning. “Mitch McConnell got $2 billion. Yeah! I have been saying, ‘Let's put the whole thing on the line for Mitch McConnell's reelection.’ I've been saying, ‘If we can just get a bribe for the state of Kentucky of $2 billion, I'd be set.’"
Included in the McConnell-Reid bill that would end the government shutdown, fund Obamacare and lift the debt ceiling, is apparently a roughly $2 billion increase in the authorization for the Olmsted Lock and Dam project in Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s home state.
However, there appears to be more to the story.
The alleged earmark package is being referred to as the “Kentucky Kickback” by the Senate Conservatives Fund as McConnell’s political opponents claim the dollars helped seal his support for the final McConnell-Reid bill. A spokesman for McConnell has flatly denied the claim.
Sen. McConnell’s office is insistent that they had nothing to do with package. Instead, it appears as though it was Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) who officially requested the provision be added.
“Now, you know what Mitch is saying here is, ‘I didn't have anything to do with that.’ You know what? He didn't. He didn't. It was Lamar Alexander. And that's how worthless Mitch McConnell is. He couldn't even get a works project done for his own state. He had to leave it to Lamar Alexander. And Lamar Alexander didn't even do it. You know who really did it,” Glenn asked. “Dianne Feinstein… Of course she's the one who did that. There was no deal going on here. Mitch McConnell didn't do anything. Mitch McConnell, come on! It was Tennessee. It was Lamar Alexander… He did not write in a $2 billion bribe for the citizens of Kentucky saying ‘Elect me because look what I can do.’ He did not do that.”
As TheBlaze reports, Sen. McConnell’s critics are skeptical that he had absolutely no say in the matter, as he is both the minority leader in the U.S. Senate and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“McConnell may try to blame someone else for this, but he wrote the bill and it’s not the first time he has sought funds for this project. He also requested $100 million for it in 2010,” the Senate Conservative Fund claims. “This is what’s wrong with Washington and it’s what’s wrong with Mitch McConnell.”
“He didn't work behind the scenes on this. He didn't have anything to do with it,” Glenn said sarcastically. “He was right there with the American people on ‘I want everybody. I don't want just special interests. I want everybody to have the right deal. I want everybody to not have to pay for fines or have their insurance so far out of whack that they won't be able to keep their doors open for their businesses.’ No. No. No.”
Front page image courtesy of the AP