WASHINGTON – With his love of pork-barrel earmarks, liberal U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) underscores his reckless spending agenda and now places himself to the left of President Obama as a new nonpartisan report reveals that “America’s free fall into debt is accelerating.”

During his State of the Union address last night, President Obama voiced his opposition to earmarks, declaring: “because the American people deserve to know that special interests aren’t larding up legislation with pet projects, both parties in Congress should know this: if a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it.”

As The Hill reports, “America’s free fall into debt is accelerating. The budget deficit is now estimated to have widened this year to $1.5 trillion, the CBO said. That compares to a budget deficit of $1.3 trillion for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The increase in the deficit would bring it to 9.8 percent of gross domestic product, the CBO said, following deficits of 10 percent and 8.9 percent during the previous two years. The CBO notes those are the largest deficit levels since the end of World War II.”

But, despite America’s rapidly expanding budget deficits, Casey continues to embrace an agenda of reckless spending, rejecting a ban on earmarks and attempting to defend his fiscally irresponsible record as he prepares for an uphill reelection bid.

“Bob Casey just doesn’t get it, and that’s why he embraces a spending agenda so reckless it puts him even to the left of President Obama,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond.  “After rubberstamping ObamaCare, the failed $787 billion stimulus, and the rest of his party bosses’ liberal agenda, Casey is moving even farther away from the mainstream, and he’ll have a very tough time explaining his irresponsible spending to voters as he faces an uphill reelection battle.” 

Background Information:

Casey Voted Against An Earmark Ban. “Coburn, R-Okla., motion to suspend Rule 22 to permit the consideration of a Coburn amendment no. 4697 that would establish a point of order against consideration of legislation containing both earmarks and limited benefits in the tax code, including limited tariff benefits.” (S. 510, CQ Vote #255: Motion rejected by a vote of 39-56: R 32-8; D 7-46; I 0-2, 11/30/10, Casey Voted Nay)

Casey Said He Disagreed With President Obama’s Earmark Ban. “Mr. Casey nonetheless said he disagreed with the president’s earmark ban and, for now, his spending freeze.” (Daniel Malloy, “Obama Urges Congress To Overcome Its Divisions,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1/26/11)

In December 2010, Casey – “A Defender Of Earmarks” – Criticized Republicans For Blocking The Earmark-Laden Omnibus. “Casey, who remains a defender of earmarks, criticized Republicans for blocking the measure, saying that doing so hurts the economy. His office said Friday he is trying to find other funding avenues for the Pennsylvania projects. ‘Pennsylvania stands to lose tens of millions of dollars in funding that would create Pennsylvania jobs and contribute to local communities,’ Casey said.” (Colby Itkowitz, “Lehigh Valley Projects Stalled With Bill’s Defeat,” Morning Call [Allentown, PA], 12/20/10)