I’ve long admired Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI). He’s smart, witty, has a fighting spirit, and is generally a true conservative. But Congressman McCotter has apparently decided to place politics above principle on the issue of bailing out union pension funds.

If you need a primer on the bailout proposal, go here. Basically Congress is considering a $165 billion bailout for union pension funds because union bosses made promises that were fiscally unsustainable. American taxpayers are expected to bailout the pension funds of people in better fiscal health than most taxpayers are on any given day.

How did Thad McCotter respond to this proposal? By offering his support. On the floor of the House of Representatives, McCotter defended his position:

What it does is good government. It allows employers the space they need to make sure they meet the pension obligations that they have for their workers. It is not a government bailout. Taxpayer funds are not involved, unless, of course, these institutions, these unions and their pension plans fail.

Taxpayer funds aren’t involved until the union pension funds are formally bailed out, then taxpayers are on the line for upwards of $165 billion. That’s a government bailout, Thad. Just because it’s delayed doesn’t mean it’s somehow not a bailout.

McCotter is being intellectually dishonest and he knows it. He’s too smart to believe otherwise. This is a union bailout and he’s supporting it because his home state is renowned for its unions. It’s the same reason he voted to bailout the automakers. His political viability demands he support the measure.

But the least he could do is admit as much. Lying to the American people isn’t appreciated. Be honest, Thad.