Posted on 11/16/2010 1:43:29 PM PST by Andrea19
...Earmarks are the broken windows of budgets—though they may be considerably small in terms of spending, they pave the way for massive spending that would be unable to gain passage on its own merit. Otherwise conservative members of Congress will vote for politically sensitive spending packages because they contain pork for their districts. To end the deluge of federal spending, members must first end the practice of earmarking.
Without the enticement of earmarks, taxpayers could have been saved nearly a trillion dollars in spending and debt on the so-called “stimulus” package, billions in the health care overhaul and the skyrocketing costs of pork-filled appropriations and authorizations.
(Excerpt) Read more at fiscalaccountability.org ...
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Someone better follow MooCowski around with a shovel. she will be a shovel ready project if no earmarks.
Hugh Hughett made an important point on his show last night. There are SEVERAL definitions of earmarks.
He warned that the way military appropriations are normally done could be called an earmark. Said the democrats are just waiting for the first mil. app. to jump up and cry HYPOCRITES!!!
Before we go too far down this line we really agree on a definition of what an earmark is.
Dems would love if that’s all the Pubbies targeted. It’s like a drop in the ocean. Go after every department, every 3-letter agency. Cut spending 10-15% across the board. Period, no exceptions. Even the DoD. There’s waste all around. I know about what I speak.
I’m afraid they just don’t get it, though I suspect the Old Guard is up to their old tricks and calling the shots.
They have no excuses that the message wasn’t clear enough, unless they are in total denial. Check my tagline.
I agree completely. I’m afraid this earmarks deal is a trap.
Earmarks have nothing to do with spending cuts. The problem with earmarks is not their nominal cost, it is that they are used as bribes to obtain majority support for vastly more expansive gov’t, paves the way for massive spending that would be unable to gain passage on its own merit and is a tool used to perpetuate & grow the power of incumbency.
If the GOP wants to pat themselves on the back over this earmarks ban, we are in trouble. All expenditures should be spelled out in the budget document within the baseline budget. Spending should be voted upon in single project bills. The hard decision spending cuts awaits them. Cut gov’t spending across the board 15-20%. Eliminate the worthless dept’s, agencies and waste.
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