Markwayne Mullin, the Republican candidate for Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional district, has repeatedly criticized the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act but he benefited from stimulus funds, the Associated Press reports.

Two plumbing businesses owned by Mullin received about $370,000 in stimulus funds through contracts from the Cherokee Nation and the Muscogee Nation. Yet he told the AP that the 2009 law was a "horrible waste of tax dollars" even as he defending taking the money.

"When someone hires us to do a job, we don't ask them where the money comes from," Mullin said in a statement. "Plumbing is plumbing,"

Mullin is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, according to The Oklahoman. He does not mention his Indian heritage on his official campaign website but he apparently benefited from his tribe's Indian preference policy in receiving the stimulus-related contract.

The tribe, however, doesn't appear to have contributed any money to Mullin. Principal Chief Bill John Baker declined to endorse him in the Oklahoman story that mentioned Mullin's Cherokee citizenship.

On the other hand, the tribe donated $2,500 to his opponent, Democrat Rob Wallace, the AP reported.

The 2nd Congressional district in Oklahoma has highest percentage of Native Americans of any in the country. It's currently represented by Rep. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma), who is retiring at the end of the 112th Congress.

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Okla. GOP candidate Mullin got $370K in stimulus (AP 9/5)