Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), one of four Democrats currently vying for the late Edward Kennedy’s Massachusetts Senate seat (the others being state Attorney General Martha Coakley, City Year co-founder Alan Khazei, and Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca), recently made waves with the declaration of his intentions upon becoming a Senator.
The November 16, 2009 edition of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition quoted Rep. Capuano’s response to the question of what his focus would be as Senator of Massachusetts: “Bringing home the bacon. I know that’s a tough term. Some people never want to hear that. Well, guess what? Ted Kennedy did it for years, proudly, rightly, and I think if we don’t replace him with somebody who knows how to do it, this state will suffer.”
Although Rep. Capuano has not had a reputation as a preeminent porker during his time in the house, he has claimed more than his fair share of earmarks. In fiscal year 2008, Rep. Capuano ranked 145 in the House, requesting 30 projects worth $29.8 million. In fiscal year 2009 he requested 25 projects worth $27.4 million, good enough to rank him 212 in the House. In the past two fiscal years, Rep. Capuano has added three earmarks to the Transportation appropriation bill for improvements to Boston’s Commonwealth Avenue and its Green Line Station, worth a combined $2,111,600.
During his Senate campaign, Rep. Capuano has not appeared afraid to be labeled as a Washington insider. This, in combination with effectively calling his shot regarding his pork-barrel aspirations, nearly earned the Congressman CAGW’s Porker of the Month for November. Fortunately for Rep. Capuano, Recovery Czar Edward DeSeve proved to be a more worthy candidate. Unfortunately for taxpayers, there could be Porkers of the Month in his future if Rep. Capuano succeeds in his campaign aspirations.
The November 16, 2009 edition of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition quoted Rep. Capuano’s response to the question of what his focus would be as Senator of Massachusetts: “Bringing home the bacon. I know that’s a tough term. Some people never want to hear that. Well, guess what? Ted Kennedy did it for years, proudly, rightly, and I think if we don’t replace him with somebody who knows how to do it, this state will suffer.”
Although Rep. Capuano has not had a reputation as a preeminent porker during his time in the house, he has claimed his fair share of earmarks. In fiscal year 2008, Rep. Capuano ranked 145 in the House, requesting 30 projects worth $29.8 million. In fiscal year 2009, where he requested 25 projects worth $27.4 million, his rank was 212 in the House. In the past two fiscal years, Rep. Capuano has added three earmarks to the Transportation appropriation bill worth $2,111,600 for improvements to Boston’s Commonwealth Avenue and its Green Line Station.
During his Senate campaign, Rep. Capuano has not appeared afraid to be labeled as a Washington insider. This, in combination with effectively calling his shot regarding his pork-barrel intentions nearly earned the Congressman CAGW’s November Porker of the Month. Fortunately for Rep. Capuano, Recovery Czar Edward DeSeve proved to be a more worthy candidate.
Filed under: Earmarks, In The News, Porker, Scandal, Transportation
Admitting to being a porker should serve Rep. Capuano well with his constituents. So long as earmarks benefit them earmarks are fine and dandy with most voters.
What’s amazing is Capuano’s honesty. That alone is refreshing. He knows, as we all know, that voters will grab for everything that they want and need but be appalled at the same greed in voters and representatives in other states.
I believe this statement of intent will serve Capuano well and probably get him elected. I also believe it shows exactly what a bunch of hypocrites most voters really are. They aren’t against earmarks, they are against your earmarks. IMO