Santorum most angered conservatives with his backing of the expensive 2003 Medicare prescription-drug program, which is expected to cost about $68 billion this year alone. Santorum told CNN last year that his Medicare vote was a mistake, because the program wasn’t paid for.
His vote for the 2005 highway bill — a $284 billion measure that was loaded with earmarks, including the infamous Alaska “Bridge to Nowhere” — also outraged conservatives.
Santorum has been a consistent supporter of earmarks, the local projects that members of Congress insert into legislation. Taxpayers for Common Sense, which tracks earmarks, estimates that in Santorum’s 12 years in the Senate and four in the House of Representatives, he got at least $1 billion in projects.
“He’s not in the pantheon of great earmarkers, but he certainly played the game,” said Steve Ellis, the group’s vice president.
In addition, Santorum voted many times to raise the federal debt ceiling and for Amtrak funds.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/02/14/v-print/138888/why-do-tea-partiers-flock-to-santorum.html
Only 3 Republicans voted against that bill. A lot of Democrats voted against it. Lindsey Graham voted against it. Wow. And he is someone you are trying to prop up? Yuk. You can have him.