The Currency of Corruption
"Earmarking--in which members of Congress secure federal dollars for pork-barrel projects by covertly attaching them to huge spending bills--has become the currency of corruption in Congress.
"In Congress these days, you establish priorities by getting money for them. When the carefully designed process of authorization, appropriation and oversight is adhered to, these policies and priorities are given a thorough vetting. But earmarking circumvents that cycle: the Appropriations Committee ensures that earmarks escape scrutiny by inserting them into conference reports, largely written behind closed doors."
--Jeff Flake, Republican representative from Arizona, "Earmarked Men," New York Times, February 9, 2006.
"Never mind the golf junkets and poolside seminars. One of the rawest displays of lobbyist's power in the Capitol occurred when Republican Congressional negotiators tweaked a budget-cutting bill in order to provide the health insurance industry with a $22 billion windfall…bill change was dearly sought by the H.M.O. industry, written by House and Senate Republicans in closed-door, Republican-only bargaining sessions…"
--Secrecy as a Spoil of Victory, New York Times editorial, January 25, 2006.
I know what some of you are thinking. That this is just business as usual, and that the Democrats have been just as guilty as the Republicans, back when they controlled both Houses.
Actually, no.
*Since Republicans took control of Congress in 1994, the number of home district earmarks jumped from 4,155 valued at about $29 billion in 1994 to 14,211 worth nearly $53 billion ten years later.
*Citizens Against Government Waste, in its annual "Pig Book" released on April 5, 2006, details $29 billion in pork barrel spending (homestate and home district projects specially set aside in congressional spending measures) in 2005 ALONE.
*Example of pork barrel: the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere"--a $223 million project connecting Alaska's Gravina Island--population 50--to the mainland.
*According to the report, "Earmarks have blossomed under the GOP."
*Earmarks are used as inducements to get members to sign on to larger spending measures. (Jack Abromoff referred to the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee as an "earmark favor factory.")
*The growth in earmarks has paralleled the monstrous increase in federal spending.
*In his first five years in office, President Bush NEVER ONCE USED HIS VETO POWER AGAINST A SINGLE EARMARK OR BILL SUBMITTED BY THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS.
According to the Washington Post, "The link between special interests and members of Congress has grown so tight that nearly a dozen House and Senate members who control federal spending have retained lobbying veterans to raise campaign funds for them, and those lobbyists have secured federal favors in spending bills."
The hunt for earmarks has become so all-consuming on Capitol Hill that, according to some congressional aides, lawmakers are neglecting other duties. Republican Senator John McCain called it "out of control."
"In Congress these days, you establish priorities by getting money for them. When the carefully designed process of authorization, appropriation and oversight is adhered to, these policies and priorities are given a thorough vetting. But earmarking circumvents that cycle: the Appropriations Committee ensures that earmarks escape scrutiny by inserting them into conference reports, largely written behind closed doors."
--Jeff Flake, Republican representative from Arizona, "Earmarked Men," New York Times, February 9, 2006.
"Never mind the golf junkets and poolside seminars. One of the rawest displays of lobbyist's power in the Capitol occurred when Republican Congressional negotiators tweaked a budget-cutting bill in order to provide the health insurance industry with a $22 billion windfall…bill change was dearly sought by the H.M.O. industry, written by House and Senate Republicans in closed-door, Republican-only bargaining sessions…"
--Secrecy as a Spoil of Victory, New York Times editorial, January 25, 2006.
I know what some of you are thinking. That this is just business as usual, and that the Democrats have been just as guilty as the Republicans, back when they controlled both Houses.
Actually, no.
*Since Republicans took control of Congress in 1994, the number of home district earmarks jumped from 4,155 valued at about $29 billion in 1994 to 14,211 worth nearly $53 billion ten years later.
*Citizens Against Government Waste, in its annual "Pig Book" released on April 5, 2006, details $29 billion in pork barrel spending (homestate and home district projects specially set aside in congressional spending measures) in 2005 ALONE.
*Example of pork barrel: the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere"--a $223 million project connecting Alaska's Gravina Island--population 50--to the mainland.
*According to the report, "Earmarks have blossomed under the GOP."
*Earmarks are used as inducements to get members to sign on to larger spending measures. (Jack Abromoff referred to the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee as an "earmark favor factory.")
*The growth in earmarks has paralleled the monstrous increase in federal spending.
*In his first five years in office, President Bush NEVER ONCE USED HIS VETO POWER AGAINST A SINGLE EARMARK OR BILL SUBMITTED BY THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS.
According to the Washington Post, "The link between special interests and members of Congress has grown so tight that nearly a dozen House and Senate members who control federal spending have retained lobbying veterans to raise campaign funds for them, and those lobbyists have secured federal favors in spending bills."
The hunt for earmarks has become so all-consuming on Capitol Hill that, according to some congressional aides, lawmakers are neglecting other duties. Republican Senator John McCain called it "out of control."
posted by Deanie Mills at 3:23 PM
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