Vote ‘no’ but take the dough: Senate Democrats claim credit for bill they opposed
What's the endgame here?
A pair of Democratic senators is touting tens of millions of dollars in federal funding they “secured” for local projects in their home state despite voting against the legislation.
Opposing a White House-brokered funding deal that cleared Congress on Tuesday and was signed into law by President Donald Trump didn’t stop Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) from each claiming credit for more than $50 million in earmarks for New Mexico.
Roughly half of Senate Democrats, including Heinrich and Luján, voted against the measure Friday as the party demands policy changes to Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda before providing more funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Heinrich denied the notion that his statement, which said he was “extremely proud” of the $67 million “I secured for our communities,” and his vote, were contradictory.
“I’m always going to advocate for the people of my state,” Heinrich told the Washington Examiner.
Luján did not respond to a request for comment and has not cast a vote in the Senate since Friday. He was absent for votes held in the chamber on Monday and Tuesday. Luján’s initial statement said he was “proud to deliver over $50 million in federal funding to support critical projects that expand housing, strengthen health services, and boost infrastructure across our state.”
Negotiating earmarks, often viewed in Washington as a dirty word associated with pork barrel spending to fund lawmakers’ pet projects, into funding measures and then opposing them is not a new phenomenon for lawmakers from either party. Some even take credit for touting funding projects they played zero role in crafting, such as certain Republicans did with Biden-era money after voting against the Inflation Reduction Act or the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.
But there is an emerging pattern for Heinrich and Luján.
It’s the second time in recent months they’ve cast “no” votes on spending bills, followed by statements taking credit for their earmarks. Both opposed the government funding measure last November to end the longest-ever shutdown in U.S. history, yet each still claimed recognition for securing more than $200 million for New Mexico projects.
From l-r: Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 4, 2025, and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., speaks to reporters at the Capitol, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photos/Mark Schiefelbein/Manuel Balce Ceneta) …
What's the endgame here?
A pair of Democratic senators is touting tens of millions of dollars in federal funding they “secured” for local projects in their home state despite voting against the legislation.
Opposing a White House-brokered funding deal that cleared Congress on Tuesday and was signed into law by President Donald Trump didn’t stop Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) from each claiming credit for more than $50 million in earmarks for New Mexico.
Roughly half of Senate Democrats, including Heinrich and Luján, voted against the measure Friday as the party demands policy changes to Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda before providing more funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Heinrich denied the notion that his statement, which said he was “extremely proud” of the $67 million “I secured for our communities,” and his vote, were contradictory.
“I’m always going to advocate for the people of my state,” Heinrich told the Washington Examiner.
Luján did not respond to a request for comment and has not cast a vote in the Senate since Friday. He was absent for votes held in the chamber on Monday and Tuesday. Luján’s initial statement said he was “proud to deliver over $50 million in federal funding to support critical projects that expand housing, strengthen health services, and boost infrastructure across our state.”
Negotiating earmarks, often viewed in Washington as a dirty word associated with pork barrel spending to fund lawmakers’ pet projects, into funding measures and then opposing them is not a new phenomenon for lawmakers from either party. Some even take credit for touting funding projects they played zero role in crafting, such as certain Republicans did with Biden-era money after voting against the Inflation Reduction Act or the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.
But there is an emerging pattern for Heinrich and Luján.
It’s the second time in recent months they’ve cast “no” votes on spending bills, followed by statements taking credit for their earmarks. Both opposed the government funding measure last November to end the longest-ever shutdown in U.S. history, yet each still claimed recognition for securing more than $200 million for New Mexico projects.
From l-r: Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 4, 2025, and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., speaks to reporters at the Capitol, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photos/Mark Schiefelbein/Manuel Balce Ceneta) …
Vote ‘no’ but take the dough: Senate Democrats claim credit for bill they opposed
What's the endgame here?
A pair of Democratic senators is touting tens of millions of dollars in federal funding they “secured” for local projects in their home state despite voting against the legislation.
Opposing a White House-brokered funding deal that cleared Congress on Tuesday and was signed into law by President Donald Trump didn’t stop Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) from each claiming credit for more than $50 million in earmarks for New Mexico.
Roughly half of Senate Democrats, including Heinrich and Luján, voted against the measure Friday as the party demands policy changes to Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda before providing more funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Heinrich denied the notion that his statement, which said he was “extremely proud” of the $67 million “I secured for our communities,” and his vote, were contradictory.
“I’m always going to advocate for the people of my state,” Heinrich told the Washington Examiner.
Luján did not respond to a request for comment and has not cast a vote in the Senate since Friday. He was absent for votes held in the chamber on Monday and Tuesday. Luján’s initial statement said he was “proud to deliver over $50 million in federal funding to support critical projects that expand housing, strengthen health services, and boost infrastructure across our state.”
Negotiating earmarks, often viewed in Washington as a dirty word associated with pork barrel spending to fund lawmakers’ pet projects, into funding measures and then opposing them is not a new phenomenon for lawmakers from either party. Some even take credit for touting funding projects they played zero role in crafting, such as certain Republicans did with Biden-era money after voting against the Inflation Reduction Act or the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.
But there is an emerging pattern for Heinrich and Luján.
It’s the second time in recent months they’ve cast “no” votes on spending bills, followed by statements taking credit for their earmarks. Both opposed the government funding measure last November to end the longest-ever shutdown in U.S. history, yet each still claimed recognition for securing more than $200 million for New Mexico projects.
From l-r: Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 4, 2025, and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., speaks to reporters at the Capitol, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photos/Mark Schiefelbein/Manuel Balce Ceneta) …
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