Rep. Allen West issued a news release moments ago that takes credit for a $21 million federal grant for a new runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

The runway project will generate at least 11,000 jobs and be complete in the fall of 2014 with an estimated budget of $791 million, the release said, noting that West worked "to ensure the funds would be allocated to the runway project."

It's not unusual for politicians to "announce" federal funding, even if projects got rolling long before they were in office. But West was among the ardent anti-government spending, pro-private sector Republicans elected in November. His office has noted that the airport money does not come from the massive stimulus package passed under President Obama.

West's office pointed out the money comes from a trust fund filled with fees on airline tickets, and emphasized that he does not oppose all government spending, just wasteful spending.