Author: Aaron
According to Citizens Against Government Waste, the number and amount of earmarks in several new spending bills have increased. Led by Republican backers, Congress has consistently pledged to fight earmarks and unnecessary spending. However, the liberal democrats that lead our U.S. House of Representatives still believe that pork barrel spending is ok.
Republican Jeff Flake, a leader in the fight against earmarks made it clear that “It’s become a way for lawmakers to award the lobbyists and others who give to their campaigns,”
Just for 2009’s Fiscal year alone lawmakers asked for 3,796 earmarks worth about $2.7 billion in seven spending bills. For example, the Interior Department spending bill has increased from $111 million in 2008 to $135 in 2009. If that isn’t absurd enough, in the House version of the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill for 2009 Congress suggested an increase of $340 million dollars in earmarks, that’s $278 million in 2008 to $619 million in 2009!
Now contrast that with the Department of Homeland Security Bill, which was passed a few years ago by Republicans and had NO, I repeat, NO EARMARKS!
House Democrats and supporters of earmarks claim that Congress has the right to appropriate financing to organizations and programs that agencies might otherwise overlook. However this claim is completely fictitious, agencies haven’t been overlooked when they are in need of government funds. If an agency truly needs governemtn funding the government, will give it to them, however their request must be appropriate and cost efficient.
House democrats led the way with earmarks. For instance, Peter J. Visclosky a Democrat from Indiana requested more than $38 in earmarks, including almost $1 million to programs at the YMCA in Gary, Indiana. Or how about House majority whip, James E. Clyburn a Democrat from South Carolina that suggested $31 million in earmarks, $10 million of which is directed towards a program to enhance science at historically black colleges and universities and an Army Corps of Engineers construction project on two lakes in South Carolina.
Some other noted democrats who requested earmarks were Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who requested more than $12 million in earmarks, House majority leader, Steny H. Hoyer, asked for more than $9 million for projects in Maryland and Representative David R. Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, requested about $20 million in earmarks.
It’s time congress stepped up to the plate and stopped spending. Why are we paying for ridiculous programs? I mean if you’re going to take money from someone in New Jersey and put it into a program in Florida or Illinois at least send it to programs that will actually help the lives of Americans. This game of spending has to end; it’s gotten out of control and hurts the lives and pockets of American citizens. If congress is going to waste our money, they might as well just send it back to us so that more people can afford the ridiculous prices of gas this summer.
Stop wasting, its enough already.
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