Murtha Isn't The Only One

If Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich) was offended by the alleged strong-arm tactics of Democratic appropriator Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa), he’d better stay away from the Senate.  No conversations in the aisle over there. Appropriators threaten members in the open. On the record.

On Oct. 20, 2005, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) had the nerve to try to challenge grants to museums—including one in Seattle—the home state of Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash). Murray was then the ranking Democrat on the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee.

Here’s what Murray said in opposing Coburn’s effort: “As the old saying goes: What is good for the goose is good for the gander. And I tell my colleagues, if we start cutting funding for individual projects, your project may be next.“