I wonder if Ray LaHood read George Will’s column on earmarks today? Will puts the blame for Republicans’ minority status right in the lap of their abuse and defense of federal earmarks.
I wonder if Ray LaHood read George Will’s column on earmarks today? Will puts the blame for Republicans’ minority status right in the lap of their abuse and defense of federal earmarks.
Does anyone know what is going on with Peoria County Board? Are they still going to vote on having a referendum, that will allow them to propose a referendum, that will call for a refrendum, which would allow them to raise taxes for this…museum project?
LaHood and other RINO’s affection for earmarks made them just about like the Democrats. So, if the Republicans are going to be Democrats by another name, why not vote for the genuine article? Or perhaps, given the poor showing of both McCain and Hillary (the establishment’s choice for nominees of their respective parties), the time is coming for a viable third party? Other attempts have failed because of reliance on one person (Teddy Roosevelt and Ross Perot, having led the most successful), but if disenchanted voters could come together on ideas first, rather than a person, the desire to break the grip of the unresponsive political duopoly is growing.
Earmarks are about 10th or 15th on people’s list of concerns. Iraq, the economy, immigration, education, health care, etc., etc. And they are irresistible to politicians of any stripe, because they portray their ability to bring something back to their district.
The truth is, some earmarks are for worthy projects, but they fail to deliver on many if not most occasions. Look at the largest transportation earmark for IL – the Mississippi River Bridge at St. Louis. Even with its $300 million or so, it’s only enough to build 1/3 of the bridge. And every year that goes by without construction, that money is losing its purchasing power. In defense of the earmarking process, if that $300 million had gone into the state’s general transportation fund, there’s no telling where the money would’ve gone. No question the process could use some more transparency and logic, but without the ability to direct the money to where it is needed, the government might siphon off our tax money to even more poorly-defined goals than it does now.
How about every city and State paying their own way when they want to do something? Does this mean we won’t be getting our millions from the Feds for our LOCAL museum?
If the public is fed up with pork in the appropriations process then they can do the right thing and not send an earmark advocate to the US Congress. Make the Candidate take an anti-earmark pledge if you will. Of course every other congressman and senator has to take it as well other wise the the earmark advocates will get the pork and everyone else will be left out in the cold.
The pledge must be followed religiously by the practitioners. The pledge must also say they will not vote for any appropriation that has earmarks in it.
Also the compensation of the Senator and Representative must be set by the district at election time. Then the member will be very aatentive to the will of the people, vote for earmarks no pay increase, or more seriously no trip back to DC after the Nov elections
To “New Voice” look me up on C.J.’s sidebar if you want information about he Peoria County Board.
Thank you sir.