Did the Obama Administration ‘Buy’ Votes to Pass Unpopular Legislation?
- Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:10pm by
Becket Adams
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The White House has allegedly been using “administrative earmarks” to “buy” votes from Democrats in Congress, according to a new report from The Heritage Foundation.
“An examination of ‘administrative earmarks’ around the time of congressional votes on key pieces of President Obama’s agenda suggests the White House used its power to fund local projects as a means to ‘buy’ votes for major legislative efforts,” writes the Heritage Foundation’s Lachlan Markay.
How do “administrative earmarks” work? Simply put, it’s when the federal government shifts funds from its discretionary budget to specific projects. However, this is less “transparent than legislative earmarking,” since, according to the Congressional Research Service, “[t]here is no source that defines and comprehensively identifies Administrative earmarks.”
See, Nancy? One day, this will all be yours . . .
And, according to the Heritage Foundation, the Obama administration has been doubling down on the practice.
“[An] analysis of grants from agencies during the early years of the Obama administration shows that the districts of moderate Democrats, whose support was so crucial for Obama during the 111th Congress, received large sums right around the passage of three key pieces of legislation,” Lachlan Markay writes.
Care to guess which three pieces of legislation required a little “encouragement” via federal grants? If you guessed “Obamacare,” Dodd-Frank, and the cap-and-trade bill, you’re a winner.
“During the run-up to votes in the House of Representatives for each of those pieces of legislation, the rate of administrative earmarking spiked,” Heritage reports.
Below is a chart that clearly identifies the exponential rise in the number of grants requested by 12 federal agencies, as documented at Grants.gov.
Image Courtesy: Heritage Foundation
Notice the correlation?
“Even more troubling,” Markay writes, “during the same time periods, significant grant money went to the districts of numerous Democratic representatives who looked to face tough battles for re-election.”
Translation: the bills being pushed by the Obama administration were so unpopular that for a vulnerable Democrat to even consider voting “yes,“ federal grants had to be thrown in to ”sweeten the deal.”
Then-Rep. Chris Carney (D-PA), for instance, kept his support for Dodd-Frank quiet. His website never posted a press release announcing his “yes” vote on the bill. It did, however, tout two federal grants totaling $3.6 million for businesses in his district two days before the Dodd-Frank vote.
Then-Rep. Zach Space (D-OH) hailed from a district reliant on the coal industry, which would have been hit particularly hard by cap and trade. He voted for the measure, but neglected to publicize the vote on his website. He did, however, announce eight federal grants totaling roughly $1.8 million all made during the month before the House passed cap and trade.
At least 32 vulnerable House Democrats received significant federal grant money in the periods leading up to or directly after their votes on at least one of these three pieces of legislation (see charts below), suggesting those grants were used either to encourage or reward votes in favor of the administration’s position.
Now, it’s important to note that the practice of using “administrative earmarks” to “buy” votes is not new. As Markay notes, Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon were particularly fond of this tool. So, why is it newsworthy when the Obama administration does it?
It’s important for two reasons: first, because it’s necessary to remind people that the administration that promised to end wars, lower the oceans, and end politicking, is not above taking part in the kind of political games played by President Richard “Tricky Dick” Nixon.
Secondly, it’s not so much the practice, but the extent to which the Obama administration has gleefully engaged in this questionable behavior.
“[The] CRS found in a report published in April 2010 — immediately after the time period at issue — that ‘[b]oth the number and value of earmarks requested solely by the President increased since FY2008,’” Markay reports.
“The number of earmarks had increased by 54 percent, CRS found, while the value of those requests had increased by a whopping 126 percent [emphasis added],” he adds.
Simply put, it appears the Obama administration has been using massive and unprecedented amounts of taxpayer dollars to solicit “yes” votes from wavering and vulnerable members of Congress.
Click here to see the full report.
(H/T: Charlie Spiering)
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Comments (125)
IMPEACHBHO
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:51pmChicago crook mentality. On another note, White House is claiming the shutting down of the pipeline is….wait for it…the Republicans fault.
Report Post »http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/02/21/carney_obama_didnt_turn_down_the_keystone_pipeline.html
Ruler4You
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 6:14pmThe Keystone XL Pipeline Bill, recently vetoed by the POTUS was in the Department of State’s office for 3 years. It had been 100% approved. Then, a last minute glitch with the Enviro-wackos threw it off track. Coupled with Buffet’s plea for preference to obango in a direct one on one meeting the pipeline was cancelled. Making Buffet millions.
The balance of any ‘savings’ continues to go to Iran (et al.) in the “redistribution of wealth” scheme of obangos.
Report Post »casseopea42
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 7:23pmLet me put on my suprized face.
Report Post »JohnofOregon
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 7:52pmHold it, people just realized the most corrupt administration in history is paying off the mind numbed idiots in congress? Of course they are pay offs. And the corrupt sob’s are paying off the foreign governments that have hired so called environmental groups to do their bidding.
Canada is now fighting this on their end. At least their prime minister is taking on foreign influence of their leaders. Democrats work directly for OPEC through these environmental groups. It’s about money period. When I was in dubai 20 years ago it was tents. Then they figured out how to work with environmentalist to “ tax” us citizens and buy politicians and media folks.
Obama in turn works for the Arabs that got him elected and so do a lot of dc politicians.
Report Post »83plus
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 8:22pmNo surprise if he did
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 8:54pmOf course they bought votes then to hold true they gave waivers.
Report Post »WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges11
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 9:55pmhttp://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Reid-Pelosi1.png
Report Post »[picture of Reid gesturing across Washington DC to Pelosi]
HARRY REID: “See, Nancy? One day, this will all be yours.”
NANCY PELOSI: “I love it when you talk dirty to me, Harry.”
rukdnme13
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:48pmAs soon as an elected representative runs for re-election you can bet your a$$ that they have been corrupted, what happened to serving and going back to private life? Hard to give up those envelopes stuffed with cash!
Report Post »db321
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 6:03pmI know what you mean – Obama just created a whole new group of supporters – Birth Control Moms – Obama pays for their Birth Control and these Moms vote for Obama – $30 a month saving is more important than God and Country.
Report Post »The citizen who cares
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:49amdb321 don’t forget obamacare forces businesses to pay for the off chance that a employee might want a sex change.
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:48pmTell me it ain’t so!!!!!! No – I’m sure he was just calling them into those secret meetings at 3:30 A.M. because he needed someone to play checkers with.
Blaze, I‘m gonna report you to 0bama’s truth squad (or whatever he calls it) for saying things like that about 0bama.
Report Post »JLocke
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 7:34pmI forgot about that scandal. It is hard to keep all of the scandals straight. This is Chicago style politics on a national level.
Report Post »fcbs46
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:47pmyou can’t buy something not for sale. Those that sell their soul or body or their state are whores of the worse kind. Here in Nevada we keep them in their own houses not the congress
put people in to office that won’t sell their souls and the farm to get reelected.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 6:02pmThese are criminal offenses folks. Federal felonies. Where the hell is “law enforcement” ? Yeah, thats right, quotation marks. They should change their name to “criminal re-inforcement”. That would be more accurate.
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 9:58pmThe Democrats have skillfully stacked the deck in thier favor using our money for decades….that realization should be enough to ensure aback lash the likes of which has not been seen in the Free world in our history. I believe the Dems/Liberals/Enviro whackos have put all of thier cards on the table and hvae pushed all of thier chips into the pot (with regards to Nov 2012). They will of course have a thorough plan B ready to go if they should lose badly in the coming election, that is IF that election is allowed to go ahead as scheduled. In any event they have set aside vast amounts of resources to combat what should be a sharp reversal in plolicy…it’ll be up to the rest of us to make sure these forces do not ursurp the narative nor gain traction with thier tactics (which will involve all kinds of disobedience, think Mil Legislature walk outs, massive social unrest where they can muster it, union collusion/wild cats strikes etc etc). WE must withstand this assault and turn it back at the gates. We can win but we must get off our backsides and acrtually do something about it, no mater how great or small, the effort is needed.
Report Post »Scare_Libs
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:46pmI see no difference between Obummer and modern day Arab leaders, being propped up by Al-jazzera
Report Post »Ohevi
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:44pmNothing to see here, move along, move along…..
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:48pmdo i have time to think about if he bought votes……………….work hard and let the government waste your money……..i wish i could
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:49pmWhat ? You did not know..
Report Post »We have the best government money can buy
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
4areason
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:53pmAnyone surprised?
Report Post »Kankokage
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:41pmHope n’ Change. Way to go, all you who voted for this guy – you were officially hoodwinked. Now at least have the dignity to admit it.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:50pmwhat we need and none of the rep. are talking about…………flat tax……….git rid of epa and others and term limits……..oh wait thats paul
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 6:15pmWe agree with the flat tax
Report Post »http://youtu.be/7kqVZUCRth0?t=14m55s
db321
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 6:16pmNobody is going to admit that they voted for Obama – However, I do predict Divorce rates are going to go through the roof in America once Husband’s find out that their wife is a Closet Supporter of Obama – Govt pays for Birth Control and your wife saves $30 a month – she is no different than Polosi she will vote – Yes We Can!
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 6:19pmLet me guess, you vote a straight republican ticket? Never mind you don’t have to answer that, we already know the answer because W had two terms.
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 10:01pmStrange how the trolls are quiet as they realize they have used like the fools (or Gulls as Roe Smellin would say) they are.
Report Post »gvblaze
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:38pmDang! You beat me to it!
Report Post »Swancman
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:38pmCornhusker Kick Back is another example of Obama buying votes. Ben Nelson is a lying bastard and I’m glad he will not be representing the state of Nebraska.
Report Post »Chris
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:38pmNone of this should surprise anyone. There’s a reason our congress has such an abysmal approval rating from the average tax payer that has an IQ over 10. America our elected officials support for us stops the moment they are elected. Of course there are the onesy‘s and twosy’s that actually believe in their causes to begin with but it’s very obvious that once the title of senator or representative gets added to their names they immediately forget that they are PUBLIC SERVANTS and begin pandering for more political swag. Someday… We as American’s will actually do something about these people who do not care one single bit about the people who put them in office… Hopefully. And then they will understand that it is a PRIVILEGE to serve people on a floor in the midst of their peers instead of looking down their noses at us. But there has to be an accounting first. When that happens is entirely up to us as Americans regardless of political leaning. I hope that it happens without anything bad happening in the process. My country is great. But my leaders are a sad bunch.
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 10:12pmThis is about the WH totally abusing a little used method to line the pockets of doubters hesistant to torpedo thier own careers to vote in favor of legislation they have grave reservations about…The fact that a number of blue dogs fell on thier own swords (politically is to thier credit) but make no mistake the Democart party did everything in it’s power (legal or oitherwise) to coerce,bribe, strongarm enough of it’s own members to get bad bills passed. Congress post Nov 2010 has been trying to do it’s job according to the huge reversal the liberals were dealt but have been stymied by a criminal Sewnate run by a Democratic Majority…having control of only 1/3 of Capital Hill and afcxed with a militant Senate and WH that will not compromise an inch (even after the repudiation of Nov 2010, the loss of the Ted Kenedy seat, the NJ Gobv etc etc to Repubs) the Dems/liberals have decided to go down in flames and take the country with them. That is extremely shameful and treasonous IMHO.
Congress has nothing to do with this particular brand of sleeze Chris, this one is on the WH bribing those in Congress with our money.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:34pmWhy should this be a suprise; the tyrant in the White House uses political cronism among his fellow radcials and supporters, so why not among the Congress as well for his fellow fanatics.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:43pmGee……. and three of the best things for this country .
>Hmm
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 10:19pmYou are seeing the full breadth of “Chicago style politics” being used by this Admin, nothing is beneath these people fi the ends justify the means. The fact that people are still surprised by this , this late in the game lends credence to the effective cloak of secrecy the MSM has lent this criminal regime the last 3.5 years. Thank god for talk radio/FOX etc…the nation is waking slowly (the entrie nation) but I believe we have now reached enough concerned ” fair minded, unbiased, country first, responsible, honorable patriots” to make THE crucial difference come this fall.
Report Post »perry1980
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:34pmof course he bought votes from congress
Report Post »now he is trying to buy votes from you and I with $40 payroll tax. but what he is not telling you is that to pay for this cut extension he is subsidising it with every mortgage or refinance about 20 bucks a month go to the government now.
MidWestMom
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:32pmIs anyone really surprised by this?
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 10:29pmConsidering the massive NO vote towrds Obamacare during 2009, frnakly speaking, yes I am surprised since this Admin should have backed off and actually compromised instead of running a costly chararde…the meeting where Obama quipped to McCain we won the election and you didn’t poisined what little middle ground there was (if there was any at all). It’s clear to me the Dems were never to going to allow any Repub chnages to the Healthcare bill…some changes had to be forced which we noiw know were undercut with yet to be written regulation ( Sunstein) . The actual size of the Healthcare bill is supposed to be well over 100,000 pages once all of the regs are written for it…this latest flap with the religious groups (over contraception) was trial ballon floated by the Heath Dept head to gauge what anger it would stir (test the waters so to speak) for the roll out of thousands of regs from the healthcare act that will control every aspect of our lives. They are going to control us in every single way conceivable and do it through an act that on the surface is for own good according to those that know betrter than we do….that is the definition of Tyranny folks…we are but one term oaway from it …should Obama win 2012 we are done, gone , lost forever.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:32pmNo big surprise here, just confirmation of what most people suspected.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 6:18pmMost over 30
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:31pmthis is just more tyranny… keep giving us more evidence to use against you, you sob…
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:31pmWhat else would you expect from this idiot commie. People got just what they ask for
Report Post »LOJ
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:27pmWe have all been Duped!
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:26pmBought, bribed, threatened and abused…….whatever it takes.
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:24pmIs a frogs a$$ water tight ?
Report Post »bobbythelung
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:24pmlove that transperancy…..what a joke….
Report Post »Mrtoohappy
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:23pmJust goes to show you just how sorry this man is. He doesn’t give a dam about the people in this country.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:20pmMost corrupt administration EVER .. and that includes Nixon!
OMG 2012!
Report Post »TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 6:30pmThat’s right. Did you read the entire report and list? We need to ramp it up right now on all members up for re election who made it through the last. Remember also that Mary Landrieu in the Senate said she got a 300 million dollar “fix” for her state. And Nasty Pelosi the Fanatic with her you’ve got to read the bill to know whats in it behind closed doors and her personal hatchet woman Debbie Wasserman Schultz who used our own “laws” to go around over and under to get what THEY WANTED FOR US (not what we wanted). Please young people our older generation put Nixon out of business but he was nothing like FDR and our grandparents did that for us. Changed the law for Presidential terms. And get the US out of UN and UN out of US. The Bible has a terminology OT and it is Root Rot. We have Root Rot government. Ever had to toss out an OVER watered plant and it had Root Rot?
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 10:45pmI agree Granny…Nixon although worthy of impecahment for what he did in 73 did n ot come close to the levels of corruption we are seeing now from the Democratic party, the Clinton Admin’s many crooked deals, actions etc made Nixon’s trangressions look like choirboy hijinks, FDR at least tried to do thing through the process but behind the scenes he was as shrewd and cunning,decieving as any plotocian could be. FDR had known comminists in his inner circle and did not care, similar to Obama in that regard. However it is no contest when compared to this current regime in terms of criminal behavior across the entire cabinet, let alone the WH…the 111th Congress will go down in infamy IMO…as THE lowest point in our history. At least Nixon has the stones to do the right thing by the country and resign…Obama will do no such thing, nor will Holder or Gietner all of which should resign immediately for the good of the nation. I believ this coming election if allowed to go forward will be a landslode the likes of which we have not seen in our history….the only worries I have lie with the Republican establishment…this election is thiers to for the taking as long as they don’t blow it. We must attack the Dems/Obama on the issues face on , day in day out…forget about infighting and concetrate on the ecomnomy and jobs, housing market and debt. Obama cannot run on his record so we must not fall for the side show bait /mud they are sre to fling our way.
Report Post »Mess23
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:19pmYup. I don’t even need to read the article to tell you that.
Report Post »Razorhunters
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:18pmyou betcha…
Report Post »YUP YUP
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:18pmHe absolutely did! He needs to be tried for treason and giving the maximum sentenced for it! Of course, that is only my opinion.
Report Post »Razorhunters
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:37pmpardon and pacify…
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 6:07pmNone of the political tactics described in this story are illegal.
Report Post »