Give Sen. Maria Cantwell points for chutzpah. Here, via Bloomberg, is the Washington Democrat’s explanation for why some Republicans are sticking to their principles and opposing reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank:
“Republicans are going to be fundraising off of this,” Cantwell said of the bank’s expected lapse. “I would ask them to get their priorities straight, be accountable on this and help Americans compete in a global economy.”
Cantwell’s No. 2 corporate source of money is Boeing, whose exports account for 40 percent of Ex-Im’s subsidy money. From Boeing employees, Boeing’s PAC and lobbyists representing Boeing, Cantwell has raised about $140,000 in the last two years.
In fact, Democratic former Rep. Barney Frank has suggested Democrats are using Ex-Im to fundraise from the agency’s recipients.
It’s quite a tactic: Fight for subsidies for your donor, accuse subsidy opponents of whoring out their votes for cash.
