House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, Wednesday defended the $1.5 billion funding stream for the Washington Metro system from its conservative critics — many in his own party — who have derided it as the “largest earmark in history.”
Speaking before a conservative audience at the Heritage Foundation, Boehner pointed out that the spending is not technically an earmark, which arises out of appropriations bills. The $1.5 billion, rather, was tacked on to a measure to expand offshore oil drilling operations. He also said it will be fully paid for, mainly by federal revenues from that drilling.
“It’s easy to pick on any spending here in D.C.,” he said. “But this is far more straightforward and far more honest than any of the attacks coming from conservative circles. I realize some people didn’t like it, but that’s what we have representative democracy for.”
The money is not solely for Washington because the 106-mile Metro system runs in Washington, Virginia and Maryland.
The 10-year program requires the local governments to match the federal stipend dollar for dollar. The bill is expected to have an easier time when it goes to the Senate.
