Rep. Musgrave joins race for Appropriations seat

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) has joined the crowded race for the Appropriations Committee seat left open by ex-Rep. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Joe J. Brettell, a spokesman for Musgrave, confirmed her candidacy and said she is running as a “conservative alternative” to the other six contenders for the post.

Republican Reps. Dave Reichert (Wash.), Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Tom Cole (Okla.). Henry Brown Jr. (S.C.), Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) and Michael Turner (R-Ohio) declared their intentions to run earlier this month. Anti-earmark watchdog groups have been pressing for Flake’s candidacy.

Rep. Joe Wilson (S.C.) initially expressed interest, but then endorsed Cole for the seat.

Musgrave seeks earmarks for her district, but has called for more transparency to the earmark process.

The lawmaker, who narrowly won reelection in 2006, defeating Angie Paccione, 46 to 43 percent in a district where President Bush easily defeated Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004, 58 to 41 percent.

Like Reichert, who also sits in a targeted seat, Musgrave could use the seat to help her reelection bid.