McCollum to Pawlenty: pork or no pork

In a press release today, Rep. Betty McCollum, DFL-Minn., criticized Gov. Tim Pawlenty for criticizing pork while asking for pork for Minnesota. At the heart of the scuffle is a request by McCollum seeking a letter of support from Pawlenty's office for several earmarks designated for McCollum's district.

"Pawlenty Administration Seeks 5,000,000 in 'Pork,' While Decrying 'Pork'," said the press release Wednesday. "Either Governor Pawlenty is seeking 5,000,000 in Congressional earmarks from my office, or he's not," she said. McCollum said she wants the letter of support as a measure of accountability in the earmarking process and decried Pawlenty's statements against the earmarking process as motivated by vice presidential hopes.

The scuffle has generated a war of official letters between the two offices which can be read here: PDF.

"It would be disappointing if you decline to support these projects or that you hold Minnesota to a different standard than requests from other states," wrote Pawlenty in a letter to McCollum. Mary Lahammer caught McCollum's latest response: "It is indeed perplexing that you feel you deserve to receive earmarked federal funds while refusing to agree to the accountability measure put forth by my office."

The projects being discussed include the Central Corridor light rail proposal and federal funding for the Minnesota National Guard.

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