Texas Congressman 'Put Pork ahead of Principle'

Contact: Bob Sturm, 703-396-6974; after 6 PM Eastern, Vi Shields or Bob Sturm; 703-906-6542, 703-307-8176

MANASSAS, Virginia, Aug. 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- By endorsing Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) for reelection over his principled conservative challenger, Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) has put "pork ahead of principle," Richard A. Viguerie said.

Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, said the endorsement is "completely inconsistent with everything Congressman Paul has said that he stands for. But, unfortunately, it is consistent with his record of pork-barrel spending for the folks back home in his district."

Viguerie noted that, according to a recent article in the Houston Chronicle, Paul "is trying to nab public money for 65 projects, such as marketing wild shrimp and renovating the old movie theater in Edna that closed in 1977 — neither of which is envisioned in the Constitution as an essential government function."

A list of Congressman Paul's earmark requests for Fiscal 2009 has been posted here.

Young is extremely influential on congressional pork. He is the 7th most senior member of the House and the 3rd most senior Republican, and chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from 2001 until the Democratic takeover in 2007. He is currently the top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee.

Paul is supporting Young against Sean Parnell, whom Viguerie called "a principled conservative reformer who will fight the 'culture of corruption' in Washington."

In contrast, "Young represents the system of earmarking and pork-barrel spending that works hand-in-glove with Big Government against the interests of the people of Alaska and the entire nation."

Young, who is under federal investigation for illegal gratuities and unreported gifts, is "a world-class porker, infamous for his Bridge to Nowhere and hundreds of millions in other earmarks," Viguerie said.

"I have been a strong supporter of Ron Paul for many years, including naming him one of the nation's up-and-coming leaders in a Conservative Digest magazine article I published almost 25 years ago," Viguerie said. "His overall record on other issues far outweighed his atrocious use of earmarks for his own district.

"However, his endorsement of Don Young is something no conservative or libertarian can excuse. I'm sure I join many fans of Ron Paul who are shocked and disappointed by this decision."