"Conservative groups ripped into Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, accusing him of earmarking $2 billion for a famously troubled lock-and-dam project that would benefit his home state as part of the bill to reopen the government and avert a debt default."

"'It’s the Kentucky Kickback,' the Senate Conservatives Fund, which is considering backing McConnell’s primary opponent, wrote in a blog post. 'In exchange for funding Obamacare and raising the debt limit, Mitch McConnell has secured a $2 billion earmark. This is an insult to all the Kentucky families who don’t want to pay for Obamacare and don’t want to shoulder any more debt.'

McConnell’s office said he had no role in securing the language, which was authored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). Versions of the water project measure passed both the House and Senate earlier this year."

Kevin Robillard reports for Politico October 16, 2013. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Group Accuses Mcconnell of Putting 'Kentucky Kickback' in Debt Bill" (The Hill) [3]

"House To Vote on Water Infrastructure Bill Next Week" (The Hill) [4]