Allen Should Face the Difference between His Rhetoric and Record on Secret Earmarks

Richmond, VA - Former Senator George Allen has made a habit of ignoring or flatly making things up about his record in the U.S. Senate on issues like spending, support for veterans and the federal debt ceiling. Last week however he took his willingness to bend the truth to the next level when, in front of a Richmond Tea Party audience, he said:

"If there was any earmark I would have my name attached to it."

That statement is the kind of strong endorsement of earmark transparency that Virginians might expect from their Senator, but unfortunately it came from a former Senator who has refused over and over again to publicly release the earmarks he requested during his term.

This is not the first time Allen has said one thing and done another on his earmark record. In 2006 he was reported as saying "Every single earmark I've gotten, I'm proud of," right before refusing a Richmond Times-Dispatch request to release those earmarks to the public.

Yesterday on a conference call with the media Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Brian Moran urged Allen to take accountability for his record saying:

"For those who have followed George Allen's career it's no shock that he wont release his secret earmarks. During his time in the Senate, George Allen voted for bills with more than 52,000 secret earmarks, and now he won't come clean on which ones were his. But what's blatantly untrue is George Allen's claim that he's put his name to earmarks he supported. That's just not true.

"George Allen has been asked multiple times, by multiple entities to comply with his own calls for transparency and release just how many earmarks he sponsored and what they were for. And at every turn, he has refused."  

On the same call House Democratic Leader David Toscano said, "George Allen's statements are frequently at odds with his actions.

"As Governor, he promised to cut government spending by 2 percent.  Instead, he expanded state spending by more than 40%. As senator, he promised to eliminate the national debt.  Instead, he voted to add trillions to the debt. He promised to show spending restraint, instead he voted to remove spending restraints like pay as you go budgeting.  His policies took our nation from surplus to massive deficits.  Now, he's running on those same policies, but promising Virginians a different result."

To view video of Allen's latest earmarks dishonest click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN7axz4z2pw&feature=youtu.be