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Nov 07, 2009 (Danville Register and Bee - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th District, recently issued a news release touting a $500,000 earmark he requested in an appropriations bill for a Halifax County wastewater treatment plant. Perriello, however, voted against that bill in June.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the conference report on the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill Oct. 29 -- a bill that included the funding request Perriello made in April. But Perriello was one of 15 Democrats and 163 Republicans to vote against it.

Jessica Barba, Perriello's press secretary, said he felt that the overall bill would not directly benefit the 5th District, save for the funding request.

"Obviously it's hard to vote against an appropriations bill," Barba said. "Even though he's happy to support the Halifax wastewater plant, overall he felt it was overbloated in spending."

In an Oct. 29 news release, Perriello praised the $500,000 earmark.

"Upgrading the Maple Avenue plant is critical to economic growth in Halifax County and the creation of new jobs," Perriello said in the release. "While we are currently working with USDA to secure the additional funds needed, I'm gratified that this $500,000 will provide the first major funding source to get it off the ground."

Andy Sere, regional spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, criticized Perriello's vote and subsequent publicity of the earmark as "disingenuous."

"There's an inherent contradiction there," Sere said, "and I would just say that no matter the excuse, it's simply unacceptable to take credit for an earmark that you voted against, and that's the issue here."

The bill, which awaits Senate approval, would appropriate $32.3 billion for the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and other related agencies, including the Smithsonian Institution and national endowments for arts and humanities.

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Catherine Amos

Copyright (C) 2009, Danville Register and Bee, Va.

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