LIBERAL LOBBYIST LAURINDA CALONGNE PROMOTES EARMARKS
by SARAH CHACKO - Advocate (excerpt)

6th District Rivals Clash

Candidates Woody Jenkins and Laurinda Calongne, both from Baton Rouge, shared their opposing views on the use of earmarks in the federal budget with about 35 residents who gathered for the Juban North Civic Association's monthly meeting. An earmark is when the U.S. Congress directs funds to be spent on specific projects.

Jenkins said he stands against earmarks along with President Bush and Republican presidential candidate John McCain, calling them special projects that cannot stand the light of day, added in the dark of night, without public input by senior members of Congress in the majority.

Calongne said she would be an inclusive team builder, even working with Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, to ensure she has a place on the committees that would best serve the district.

Jenkins said he wouldn't "play footsie" with Pelosi.

COMMENTARY: Liberal lobbyist Laurinda Calongne's true colors are beginning to emerge. While she is running for the Republican nomination to U.S. Congress, we already knew she is a big contributor and fundraiser for Congressional Democrats Mary Landrieu and Charlie Melancon.

Now, we learn that she is a vigorous proponent of continuing to waste tax payer money through the use of earmarks. According to a reader in attendance at the forum, Calongne engaged her opponent in a lengthy spirited debate in defense of earmarks. Among her notable quotes were:

"You can't pay for roads without earmarks!" "They (earmarks) are not done in the middle of the night!"

It is evident that Calongne has already spent too much time in Washington and is completely out of touch with the people of the 6th Congressional District. Earmarks are the most egregious examples of wasteful and unethical spending. Calongne's friend, Mary Landrieu, is currently in a firestorm concerning her unethical use of earmarks.

To top it off, Calongne promises to go Washington to work WITH Nancy Pelosi. Certainly, the vast majority of Republican voters want to send someone to Washington to battle Pelosi and not play footsie with the San Fransico liberal.