Stimulus Includes $30M to Save Pelosi's Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse...No, Really, It Does

Remember, the Misleader In Chief claims there is no pork, no earmarks in the CRAPulus.


If it talks like a pig, looks like a pig and smells like a pig; well....

From The Washington Times

House Republicans are challenging Speaker Nancy Pelosi's claim that the massive stimulus spending bill contains no pet projects after uncovering in the bill more than $30 million for wetlands conservation in her San Francisco Bay area district, including work she previously championed to protect the salt marsh harvest mouse.

"This sounds like spending projects that have been supported by a certain powerful Democrat in the past," said Michael Steel, spokesman for House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican.

"It certainly doesn't sound like it will create or save American jobs," he said. "So can Speaker Pelosi explain exactly how we will improve the American economy by helping the adorable little" critter?

A spokesman for Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, said the claim was "fabricated" by Republicans.

"The speaker nor her staff have had any involvement in this initiative. This is yet another contrived partisan attack," Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said. "Restoration is key to economic activity including farming, fisheries, recreation, and clean water."

The criticism of hidden pet projects, or earmarks, in the economic rescue comes as Capitol Hill leaders rush to finalize a roughly $800 billion package in closed-door negotiations. President Obama boasts the stimulus plan contains no earmarks since Congress technically did not use the earmark process for lawmakers to request and drop in specific spending items.

However, much the legislation was written behind closed doors and Republicans question how the projects were chosen.

Hot Air explains the logic:

Pelosi’s office denies that she inserted this provision into Porkulus. However, Pelosi has previously championed this effort and the money will get spent in her district. It looks as if the Speaker is trying a little
sleight-of-hand, perhaps by doing what Congress often does: trade earmarks so as to keep the true fingerprints off the pork.

I’m just curious as to how many jobs will get created for the harvest mice. Maybe Obama plans to use them to power the NEVs that supposedly create no emissions despite relying on electricity that gets generated at coal-burning plants around the nation? That would be a win-win — at least until PETA stops the exploitation of our furry woodland friends.

Unreal.