John Kline flip flops on earmarks

Rep. John Kline (R-MN02) really blew it last week. John Kline used to be the morally righteous right wing conservative who opposed all earmarks. Kline really wants everyone to believe this and talks about it ad nauseam. The sham of this political ploy came to light today.

But the Second District Republican wasn't shy about appearing at a ribbon-cutting last week in Prior Lake to accept congratulations for obtaining more than $2 million to remodel one of the most dangerous roads in Scott County.

"Absolutely not," Kline said when asked if it was a problem for him to celebrate the success of an earmarked project while being against the practice.

The reason, he said, is that he earmarked the Scott County money years ago when he was like most members of Congress, pushing for special projects in their own districts.

During the 2003, 2004 and 2005 fiscal years, Kline obtained more than $4 million for Scott County transportation projects, including $2.1 million to upgrade a milelong stretch of County Road 21 east of Hwy. 13.

"I'm not asking for earmarks anymore," said Kline, who more than two years ago became one of the first members of Congress to publicly decry earmarks, which each year run into billions of dollars. "I absolutely believe that the system has gotten out of control."
(Star Tribune)

John Kline was for earmarks before he was against them before he was both for and against them.