On Wednesday, House conservatives appointed Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) to replace embattled Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) on the House Appropriations Committee. ThinkProgress noted the irony in this appointment, as Calvert has been scandal-plagued for years, using earmarks to make millions of dollars in personal profits.
Yesterday, Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) publicly spoke out against Calvert’s appointment:
I care a lot about the House of Representatives, I care a lot about our members and once someone is ethically challenged and gets in trouble it effects all of us. … I appreciate the high ethical standards that [Boehner] has set … but I believe the bar was lowered today when our conference chose to vote Ken Calvert onto the Appropriations Committee.
Prominent members of the conservative blogosphere are echoing LaHood’s disgust with Calvert’s history. RedState proclaims today, “We must fight the House GOP and we must fight today”:
Today, I declare war on the Republican leadership of the United States House of Representatives. We must scalp one member. That member’s name is Ken Calvert. … This is the man House Republicans chose to replace John Doolittle. They just don’t get it. So now I declare war. Who is with me?
Ankle Biting Pundits joins RedState:
I am deeply troubled that the GOP still does not appear to get it with respect to the corrupting influence of pork. I’m sick of it. Sick and tired. We are either the party or small, clean government or we are the party that merely rewards a different set of friends than the other party. … I have called Rep. Boehner’s office and expressed my deep irritation at this move. I hope you all will, too. Be sure to identify yourself, as I have, as a conservative Republican.
The conservative blogosphere is exactly right on this one. Boehner needs to be called out on his corrupt choice. Call his office at (202) 225-4000 and demand he appoint a member to the Appropriations Committee with a clean record.
UPDATE: Politico picks up on the anti-Calvert movement, and adds:
Members were quietly brooding over the Calvert move on Thursday and similarly disgruntled about the Steering Committee’s decision to allow Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) to maintain his hold as the ranking Republican on the appropriations panel.
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