Watch for King & Latham takng credit for stimulus programs

[rurallib]

I am posting from a rapid response email citing the bleeding heartland blog: (thank you desmoinesdem!)

Bleeding Heartland
It's what plants crave.
Tell us if you catch King or Latham taking credit for stimulus spending
by: desmoinesdem
Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 03:50:34 AM CST
Although GOP leaders are boasting that zero House Republicans voted for the stimulus bill, I have a sneaking suspicion that once this so-called "wasteful spending" starts working its way through the economy, Republican members of Congress will find a way to take credit for it.

We saw last fall that Steve "10 worst" King used his first television commercial to take credit for progress toward widening Iowa Highway 20. The TIME-21 plan approved by the state legislature last spring--not King's work in Congress--made that project possible. Nevertheless, King continued to mislead voters about his role in moving the Highway 20 project forward.

At least two House Republicans are already playing this game with respect to the stimulus. David Waldman/Kagro X predicts,

Standard operating procedure, of course. Oppose the bill viciously, vote against it, then show up at every ribbon cutting in the district paid for by federal funds, and cry "Politicization!" if they're not invited.

Paul Rosenberg's take on this story is also worth a read.

Democrats need to be on the lookout for this kind of weaselry over the next couple of years. Help from Iowans living in the fourth and fifth Congressional districts would be most appreciated.

If you see Steve King or Tom Latham taking credit for stimulus spending they voted against, either in an official press release or in a local newspaper, radio or television news story, please post a diary about it at Bleeding Heartland, or e-mail me with the details (desmoinesdem AT yahoo.com).

[progressoid]

1. Yep - expect them to show up at various ribbon cutting ceremonies

Extolling their leadership qualities.

[Bluzmann57]

2. Since they voted against the bill

They should have gone ahead and just turned the money down. After all, They apparently felt their constituents didn't need the money, so why take it? Then there would be hell to pay and that would guarantee they wouldn't get re-elected. Oh wait, they are cowardly partisan hacks. Never mind. To be not so genteel, fuck 'em both.

[Peacetrain]

3. Would not surprise me in the least

[rurallib]

4. KO had a short piece on Kit Bond of Missouri taking a tour to shill

all the good stuff Missouri will get from the stimulus.