Keith Ashdown
Keith Ashdown
definitely influence lobbyists lung second strategy
Most other lobbyists would give up their second lung to get that kind of access. It's not always illegal, but it's definitely a strategy of influence that's unparalleled.
bill challenges defense figure initial location money percent releases tied
One of the challenges of defense earmarks -- when you get initial bill 3 or 4 percent has a location tied to the earmark, then look at 535 releases and triangulate to figure out where the money is going.
betting billions cutting fiscal lose party pay promises public senators
Senators are betting that pandering to the public with billions in election-year promises will pay off more than they lose by cutting the fiscal conservatives in their own party off at the knees.
congress issue
The only issue will be how is Congress going to react.
balances checks fact money spent sure
The fact is, there are not the checks and balances to make sure the money is spent well.
biggest brought champion defense increase lewis smart
We used to think that Mr. Lewis would be a champion for smart spending. But he brought us the biggest increase in defense earmarking in history.
cut fly pigs
Pigs will fly before we cut this pork. I don't know how we'll make this happen.
campaign employ sure thousands trying win
Lawmakers are not trying to win campaign cash. They are trying to make sure that they employ thousands of people.
anyone iraq money people precedent presence watching
Our Iraq presence isn't going away; the only thing going away is the people watching how the money is being spent. If you don't have anyone watching it, the precedent is that the money will be wasted.
added conference creates deterrent good last
It is a good reform. It creates an added deterrent to things being added (to conference reports) at the last minute.
federal fiscal grade higher house
I give him a C-minus. It's better than we've had, but we've got a long way to go to get this federal fiscal house in order. ... I would give him a much higher grade if he had vetoed just one (spending) bill.
congress gorilla happen major nobody program protecting talking
The only thing I think can happen is that (Congress enacts) a very large, across-the-board cut, ... and nobody is talking about that. Every major program has an 800-pound gorilla protecting it.
basically jury
He's basically judge, jury and executioner for all this money.
ask reason
The other reason you see Murtha get so much is because Young does not ask for very much.