A group that tracks earmarks is reporting that 11 Bart Stupak Democrats have requested more than $3.4 billion in earmarks for 2011. Stupak himself requested more than $578 million in earmarks. Of the eight members whose 2010 earmarks requests were available for comparison, five requested more than they did a year ago: Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pa.) Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.) and Rep. Charles Wilson (D-Ohio).
Personally, I doubt any of these lawmakers flipped because of the earmarks — though given the Cornhusker Kickback and the Louisiana Purchase, you can never rule it out — but their loyalty to their party’s leadership rather than their pro-life views may yet be rewarded.
