Thursday, June 14, 2007
McCain Strikes Hillary Clinton's Pork Projects
Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Wednesday he will try to squash nearly $150 million in proposed defense spending backed by Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, calling the projects wasteful and unneeded by the military.
Speaking to reporters outside a downtown fundraiser, the Arizona senator said Clinton larded a Senate bill with a lineup of "pork-barrel" proposals that would drain funds needed to shore up armed forces arrayed around the globe.
McCain plans to offer amendments or join with other members on the Senate floor to "eliminate these earmarks and pork-barrel spending projects, which the Pentagon had no request for and had no need for."
"We can't do this earmarking and pork-barreling if we ever are going to be careful and serious stewards of the taxpayers' dollars," McCain said.
A Clinton campaign spokesman, Luis Vizcaino, said the New York senator "has worked hard to advance measures that protect our troops abroad and assist their families here at home."
The Clinton camp said McCain previously praised the bill that he was criticizing, saying in May that it proves strong national defense and saving taxpayers' money were bipartisan priorities.
McCain spokesman Matt David said the Arizona senator "supports the legislation but opposes earmarks. ... McCain obviously has a fundamental disagreement with Hillary Clinton when it comes to pork barrel projects."
The Hill newspaper reported Wednesday that Clinton secured 26 pet projects, or earmarks, worth $148 million in a 2008 defense-spending bill - more than any other Democrat except for the chairman of the Armed Services Committee.
Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group, has calculated that Clinton landed 360 earmarks worth $2.2 billion from 2002 to 2006 in various spending bills. The beneficiaries have ranged from defense giant Northrop Grumman Corp. to New York-based Telephonics, which won $5 million for helicopter equipment.
Democrats on Capitol Hill have pledged to cut earmarks in half from prior levels. President Bush is demanding that the number and total cost of earmarks be cut in half.
McCain, a longtime critic of such spending, had none. He said Clinton's proposals would shortchange the military at a time of war.
"We need a bigger Army. We need a bigger Marine Corps," McCain said. "You look around the world - Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan. It's not going to be over for a long time."
Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Wednesday he will try to squash nearly $150 million in proposed defense spending backed by Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, calling the projects wasteful and unneeded by the military.
Speaking to reporters outside a downtown fundraiser, the Arizona senator said Clinton larded a Senate bill with a lineup of "pork-barrel" proposals that would drain funds needed to shore up armed forces arrayed around the globe.
McCain plans to offer amendments or join with other members on the Senate floor to "eliminate these earmarks and pork-barrel spending projects, which the Pentagon had no request for and had no need for."
"We can't do this earmarking and pork-barreling if we ever are going to be careful and serious stewards of the taxpayers' dollars," McCain said.
A Clinton campaign spokesman, Luis Vizcaino, said the New York senator "has worked hard to advance measures that protect our troops abroad and assist their families here at home."
The Clinton camp said McCain previously praised the bill that he was criticizing, saying in May that it proves strong national defense and saving taxpayers' money were bipartisan priorities.
McCain spokesman Matt David said the Arizona senator "supports the legislation but opposes earmarks. ... McCain obviously has a fundamental disagreement with Hillary Clinton when it comes to pork barrel projects."
The Hill newspaper reported Wednesday that Clinton secured 26 pet projects, or earmarks, worth $148 million in a 2008 defense-spending bill - more than any other Democrat except for the chairman of the Armed Services Committee.
Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group, has calculated that Clinton landed 360 earmarks worth $2.2 billion from 2002 to 2006 in various spending bills. The beneficiaries have ranged from defense giant Northrop Grumman Corp. to New York-based Telephonics, which won $5 million for helicopter equipment.
Democrats on Capitol Hill have pledged to cut earmarks in half from prior levels. President Bush is demanding that the number and total cost of earmarks be cut in half.
McCain, a longtime critic of such spending, had none. He said Clinton's proposals would shortchange the military at a time of war.
"We need a bigger Army. We need a bigger Marine Corps," McCain said. "You look around the world - Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan. It's not going to be over for a long time."
