Pelosi supports DoJ probe of Coconut Road earmark

The House will not strip an amendment from the highway technical corrections bill that directs the Department of Justice to investigate the controversial Coconut Road earmark connected to Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), according to leadership sources.

{mosads}The amendment sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) passed the Senate 64-28 on Thursday.

When contacted, Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) office confirmed that she has no intention of stripping the Boxer language from the legislation when it comes to the House floor in the next few weeks.

Young has come under fire for his staff’s involvement in altering the 2005 highway bill to include a $10 million earmark for the Coconut Road interchange in Florida after the bill had passed both chambers.

The original language called only for improving and widening Interstate 75 in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Speaking with reporters Thursday, Pelosi suggested that the House ethics committee should also look into the matter.

“And I think we should take that course of action, especially now since Congressman Young has said that his staff person did make that change after the fact. That’s just not right,” she said.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) indicated Thursday that an investigation should be launched into how the earmark made its way into the bill.

“Mr. Young’s office has welcomed any inquiry or examination of the earmark, and I would support that as well,” Boehner said in a statement.  “I think it’s in everyone’s interest that we know what happened and did not happen here.”

Young’s office could not immediately be reached for comment.