Conservatives Target Daschle Center Earmark

Republicans weren't big fans of Tom Daschle when he was the Democratic leader in the Senate, so it's no surprise they would take particular delight in highlighting a $1 million earmark for the Thomas Daschle Center for Public Service.

Conservative Republicans in both chambers have seized on the money to argue that Democrats are breaking their own rules by "air-dropping" projects into spending bills without first clearing them with House and Senate negotiators.

The money goes to South Dakota State University, and the former senator-turned-lobbyist told the Associated Press that the center would create opportunities for young people to get involved in public service. It would be the home for all his papers in the Senate.

"To corrupt a bill intended to fund veterans' services with entities like the 'Thomas Daschle Center for Public Services' is an insult to those who have worn our nation's uniform," said Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, who chairs the conservative Republican Study Committee. "I would hope that Senator Daschle would respectfully request that funding for his center be removed from this bill."

Daschle's former homestate colleague, Sen. Tim Johnson (D), sponsored the measure with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Daschle's former number two.

Senate rules state that House-Senate negotiators "shall not insert in their report matter not committed to them by either House, nor shall they strike from the bill matter agreed to by both Houses" before introducing final packages in either chamber.