House GOP opposes Senate’s ‘Coconut Road’ measure

House Republican leadership does not favor a Senate measure calling on the Department of Justice (DoJ) to launch a criminal investigation on a controversial earmark sponsored by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska).

Young has come under fire for his involvement with the so-called “Coconut Road” earmark language, which his staff changed after Congress approved it as part of the massive 2005 highway funding bill.

{mosads}Senate lawmakers have endorsed efforts to call on the DoJ to initiate a criminal probe into the circumstances surrounding the changed earmark for an interchange project on Interstate 75 near Naples, Fla. A measure sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is expected to be voted on Thursday.

But House Republicans do not support taking such a step.

“My sense is that this whole issue needs to be looked at,” House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) told reporters on Thursday.

Blunt said that Young’s acknowledgement that his staff changed the highway bill should be looked into but that the legislative branch has mechanisms to review the matter, alluding to the House ethics committee.

“The attorney general does not work for Congress,” he said.

He added, “If the [allegations are true], there are plenty of ways to pursue questions of a member of Congress.”

The FBI is already reportedly investigating the circumstances surrounding the earmark. In a separate matter, the DoJ late last year reportedly began investigating whether an Alaska oil contractor used golf tournaments to funnel cash to Young.

The Hill reported in January that Young opened a legal defense fund. Young, who is being targeted by Democrats this cycle, has denied wrongdoing. His office has said the change to the Florida earmark had nothing to do with political contributions from real estate developers.

Local officials in Florida have repeatedly opposed the earmark.

“We need to look at this … there are clearly problems in the mechanics of how things work here,” Blunt said. “Don Young said he welcomes this investigation — I’m not sure he welcomes all of them, but he welcomes this one.”