Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Press release from the Grijalva for Congress campaign:
Tucson, Ariz. – Sen. John McCain has a new ad on the air attacking Rep. Raúl Grijalva for supporting the Recovery Act. The only problem: McCain wrote several letters promoting Recovery Act projects around the state, including one in which he says, "I feel it is my obligation to give my support to all of the Arizona applicants."
McCain promoted the application of Wecom, Inc., for a Department of Commerce award, calling the application "of considerable merit." He also promoted the City of Phoenix's application for Department of Transportation funds to expand the Sky Train at Sky Harbor International Airport, writing that the project "will usher into our community a much more tightly knit transit system alternative to the private automobile."
In a third letter, he referred a letter from an Arizona businessman looking for a federal contract to build solar panels to the Department of Energy, requesting that a DOE official "respond directly."
"If John McCain really thinks the Recovery Act is destroying our economy, why did he promote these projects in the first place?" Grijalva said. "It doesn't matter where you stand politically — hypocrisy is hypocrisy. Sen. McCain should level with the voters about what he really thinks instead of taking selective pot shots."
Southern Arizona's recent record on job creation:
– Abengoa Solar is building the world's largest solar power plant near Gila Bend, Ariz., thanks to a $1.45 billion federally guaranteed loan. The project is expected to create at least 1,500 construction jobs.
– Roche just announced a $180 million expansion in Oro Valley, expected to create 500 permanent jobs, thanks in part to $2 million in federal jobs funding.
– Federal support for education passed in August saved 4,000 teacher jobs around the state.
The White House Council of Economic Advisors estimates that federal support created or saved 64,000 jobs in Arizona as of August.
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NB: I added the graphic for emphasis.
One of the most famous critics of earmarks and pork-barrel spending — former presidential candidate and current Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain — joined the letter-writing crowd after the stimulus law he voted against passed.
McCain, who made running against pork a key plank of his 2008 presidential campaign, sent a letter offering his “conditional support” for Department of Transportation funds for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. “My longstanding policy is to treat fairly all Arizona entities applying for federal programs, and I feel it is important not to endorse one applicant over another,” wrote McCain, who also noted that he was writing at the request of the City of Phoenix.
“These funds are for a specific purpose that will usher into our community a much more tightly knit transit system alternative to the private automobile. … The TIGER discretionary grant deserves your consideration within existing rules, regulations, and ethical guidelines.”
That grant was not awarded. McCain also wrote three letters to the Department of Commerce. The three closely mirror the Transportation letter and serve as cover letters for attached official requests. McCain’s office did not respond to repeated calls seeking comment.