Progress Illinois

When back in the 13th Congressional District, Rep. Judy Biggert sure likes to praise the result of bills she opposed on Capitol Hill.

Earlier this year, the Hinsdale Republican lauded two transportation projects in her district that were funded through an appropriations bill she had voted against. Then in early October, she called for a six-month extension of the first-time homebuyer's tax credit -- initially implemented via the federal stimulus bill she vehemently opposed. Yesterday, she went even further, applauding the arrival of two stimulus grants (amounting to $10.9 million) intended to upgrade Naperville's municipal electric utility.

The political opportunism here is self-evident.  In February, just as the stimulus negotiations were wrapping up, Biggert spread lies about a 2007 report on the economic benefits of tax cuts by President Obama’s Economic Council of Advisers Chairwoman Christina Romer and eventually voted against the package. Just this past month, she issued a statement suggesting that "it's long past time for Congress to reject the big-spending approach to recovery that has clearly failed to stimulate job growth or ease the financial burden on struggling families." But then she sayd those stimulus programs directly benefiting her constituents are worthy of federal support?

She can't have it both ways.  And judging from his comments to us over the summer, Democratic challenger Scott Harper plans to drive home this point.