Hey, big spenders - McConnell and Bunning

Color us pink, as in tickled, to discover this late into their tough, anti-big government talking political careers that both Sen. Jim Bunning and Sen. Mitch McConnell believe that there are some things that the people can't live without, that no one but government ought to do, and that they support the dreaded and libeled budget earmarks to deliver those services to their constituents.

After all the bellicosity of election season and since, where accusations of "socialism" were and are swatted about like badminton birdies by so-called budget hawks, you can also color us kind of surprised that Kentucky's senators seem to have become true believers in the practice: Mr. McConnell has requested $658 million for projects in the fiscal 2010 appropriations bills before Congress; Mr. Bunning — astonishingly, given his comfort level in assigning the "s" word to others — has asked for more than that, $730 million all told, but then he is ostensibly running for re-election.

In contrast, Indiana's senators are relative pikers: the GOP's Sen. Richard Lugar has asked for a piddling $269 million, and Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh has eschewed the "spend" part of the "tax-and-spend" whammy on the Democrats, at least this time, by declining to request anything. He feels our pain, and wants to save our money for us.

Let's just say that in the hypocrisy sweepstakes Kentucky's junior senator has edged out his senior counterpart. During his most recent campaign, Sen. McConnell did bank on votes for all the pork he brought home to every corner and holler of the commonwealth, even as the other side of his mouth staked out his territory as a fiscal watchdog. Sen. Bunning, however, has more of a time squaring his cascade of requests against his national rep as a "socialism" parrot.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090610/OPINION01/906100454/1055/OPINION/Hey++big+spenders