Today’s preliminary CBO report spurred Republicans to once again comment on the student loan takeover which will be included as an add on.  As Senator Lamar Alexander noted today:

“This is how it will work: the federal government will borrow money at 2.8 percent and then lend it to students at 6.8 percent—spending the difference on health care and new government programs.”

Aside from the content of the bill, Democrats are also drawing fire for the “process” involved in passing the bill.  Specifically, Republicans are pointing to what has become known as the “Bismarck Earmark,” which would exempt The Bank of North Dakota from the student loan restrictions, presumably, in exchange for Conrad’s vote.

Politico reports,

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) defended the provision.

“You come under attack here no matter what,” Conrad said. “We’ve tried to make case for many months about this to our colleagues. They’ve recognized this is a unique situation. But it would apply the state to every state. Any state that has an institution like this would be exempt.”

But Conrad may not the the only North Dakota politician on the hook for this…

House Minority Leader John Boehner just released a statement asking about Rep. Earl Pomeroy’s involvement:

This ‘Bismarck Bank Job’ provision looks like exactly the sort of backroom deal that makes the American people hate Washington and the whole process that has led to this massive, awful government takeover of our health care.  Rep. Earl Pomeroy, the only House Member from the State of North Dakota, has some questions to answer.  Did he know about this provision?  Was it inserted in an attempt to secure his support for the health care bill?

By the way, it’s ridiculous that there is a “bank of North Dakota,” to begin with.  I was at a conservative meeting recently where Governor John Hoeven – who used to run the bank — was introduced.  The person introducing him noted that Hoeven used to run the Bank of North Dakota, and that it proved he was a real Free Market guy.  (I’m not sure the fellow realized the bank is owned by the state.)

In any event, the real story is the shameless deals being cut.  On the heels of the “Cornhusker Kickback,” “The Louisiana Purchase” and the “Slaughter Solution,” is anyone really surprised???