Posted on 03/11/2009 6:56:34 PM PDT by pissant
Ron Paul, the Texas congressman who is the darling of the Libertarian Right, has more earmarks in the pork-laden $410-billion spending bill than any other Republican.
That's not according to the MSM, or the liberal blogosphere. That's what Fox News is reporting.
In an interview Tuesday night with Fox News' Neil Cavuto, Paul not only defended his own earmarks, he argued that every penny in the federal budget should be earmarked, to improve transparency.
Paul, a fiscal watchdog who said he voted against the bill because he believes federal spending is out of control, acknowledged that $73 million in the bill passed by his colleagues "might be" going to his district on Texas' Gulf Coast for things like the intra-coastal waterway, the Texas City channel and Wallisville Lake. But he was fine with that, noting that he always votes for tax credits, not matter how "silly," to return money to the constituents who sent their tax dollars to Washington.
The principle of the earmark is our responsibility. We're supposed to — it's like a — a tax credit. And I vote for all tax credits, no matter how silly they might seem. If I can give you any of you of your money back, I vote for it. So, if I can give my district any money back, I encourage that. But, because the budget is out of control, I haven't voted for an appropriation in years — if ever. ...
I don't think the federal government should be doing it. But, if they're going to allot the money, I have a responsibility to represent my people. If they say, hey, look, put in a highway for the district, I put it in. I put in all their requests, because I'm their representative.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Look out! The Paulbots will be here soon to defend the mad elf!
He is such a flake. His district got HAMMERED by hurricane Ike and he was turning down aid, saying it was wrong, but now this. That man should retire, and the liberaltarians should find a better standard bearer.
He reminds me of Pat Paulson.
“And I vote for all tax credits, no matter how silly they might seem. If I can give you any of you of your money back, I vote for it.”
it’s not our money because you tell me how it should be spent.
He gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “robbing Peter to pay Paul”..
Ron Paul Ping
and worse, the clone of L Ron Paul is 9/11 Truther Chuck Baldwin
BUT, why are FReepers freaking out on this? Maybe he is a lying fraud I don't know, but what he says here makes perfect sense.
On a side note (serious questions), I always thought earmarks were pork attachments to unrelated bills. How are these things in the spending bill considered earmarks? Aren't they just spending? What part of the spending bill is not an earmark?
Clearly you are in favor of Obama’s plan to send the money overseas.
A representative ‘represents’ citizens. The places Obama’s sending our tax dollars get it without representation or even our permission. The federal reserve says its a ‘secret’.
You globalists are destroying this country and gutting the domestic economy.
You are the redistributionists, and apparently you’re a disinformationist too.
You’re a globalist, then.
What do you have against taxpayers keeping some of their money?
Cute collectivist double speak you have there.
Ron Paul makes sense some of the time. This is not one of those times.
That isn’t keeping it, that is big brother redistributing it to whom he deems worthy.
So the federal government, Nancy Pelosi and Obama should decide where a taxpayer’s money should be spent even if they want to send it to foreign corporations and foreign governments to prop up the fake ‘global economy’? LOL your colors are showing LOL
You’re projecting, LOL
No, none of them should. This redistribution game just keeps the baseline growing and Paula is just as guilty as Pelosi.
If you live in a congressional district, and money from taxes is taken from your district, do you expect that it should NEVER be spent in your district? Is it gone? Kaput? Like it never existed?
Whatever.
That slogan will knock 'em dead in 2010 when the Repubs accuse the Dims of fiscal irresponsibility...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.