During her successful 2008 campaign for Congress, Lynn Jenkins criticized her opponents for voting for earmarks — those appropriations for specifically requested projects tucked away in large spending bills.

The Topeka Republican, whose 2nd U.S. House District includes west Lawrence, took to task her Republican primary opponent, former Congressman Jim Ryun, and general election opponent, Democratic incumbent Nancy Boyda, both of whom she defeated, over the issue.

Jenkins signed a pledge vowing to abide by strict earmark limits.

But on Wednesday, it was Jenkins who was under fire for pushing for earmarks.

The Club for Growth issued a news release saying Jenkins violated her pledge. And the organization removed Jenkins from its “Sworn Off Earmarks” list.

“American taxpayers deserve better,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola.

But Jenkins’ office said the Club for Growth was mistaken.

Jenkins signed the Citizens Against Government Waste earmark reform pledge, which wasn’t an absolute rejection of all earmarks, said Mary Geiger, a spokeswoman for Jenkins.

“If the congresswoman had her preference, earmarks would be banned altogether. The reality, though, is that if members of Congress are allowed to earmark, then the money is going somewhere,” she said.

She said Jenkins has submitted 23 projects totaling $70 million to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration. “If there are legitimate federal projects in the 2nd District that serve a federal purpose, then she believes that money might as well be spent in Kansas,” Geiger said.

She said the projects were submitted from military installations, communities and public universities.