Billy Long Blames Washington, Goodman, and Nodler for His Own Earmark Mess

Why wasn't Billy Long fed up when he served on the airport board? We now know now Billy Long approved $3 million dollars in federal spending to build a bus terminal at the old Springfield Branson airport terminal that was shut down just a few short years later meaning the bus terminal was basically useless. Now the truth about Billy Long's love of the earmark has been exposed, the Long campaign is quick with the damage control quickly pointing fingers at Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman.


Long spokesman Royce Reding says, “It’s false – [a] negative ad that’s paid for by Jack Goodman and Gary Nodler’s buddies in Washington.” He says, “The ad is false on its face. Billy voted for the lowest bid for the contactor – it wasn’t even an earmark – it wasn't a grant.”

Wait a minute Mr. Reding. If Billy Long has a history of being fed up over wasteful government spending, why didn't Long stand up against taking the money in the first place and send a clear message to Washington that the fiscal security of the nation is more important than a bus terminal at an airport slated to be useless in a few short years? Why didn't Mr. Long go on record and say we don't need your federal money in earmark or grant form to build our bus terminal here in Southwest Missouri. We can build it on our own!

I guess it wasn't advantageous for Long to stand up against it and upset the other members who voted along with Billy Long on the airport board at the time. Now, it is advantageous for Billy Long to say he stands up against earmarks because it's popular. The bottom line is, Billy Long has no backbone.

Let's hope Southwest Missouri doesn't have to watch Billy Long stick his finger to the wind for the next two years and then run from the truth.