Hoyer Is Proof of Earmarks' Endurance
Md. Democrat's Campaign Donors Among Grantees
By Mary Beth Sheridan
Washington Post
Even as House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer has joined in steps to clean up pork-barrel spending, the Maryland congressman has tucked $96 million worth of pet projects into next year's federal budget, including $450,000 for a campaign donor's foundation.
Hoyer (D) is one of the top 10 earmarkers in the House for 2008, based on budget requests in bills so far, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, an independent watchdog group.
Earmarks are spending items inserted into bills to benefit designated companies or projects, often in the sponsoring lawmaker's district. They make up a small percentage of the federal budget. But because the grants often aren't subject to competitive bidding or much scrutiny, they can go to projects that are wasteful or reward campaign contributors, watchdog groups say.
Congressional leaders obtain a disproportionate share of approved earmarks, showing "these decisions are based on political muscle rather than project merit," said Ryan Alexander, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Hoyer defends his earmarks, saying they fund such worthy causes as cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and supporting local military bases. For 2008, he has requested millions of dollars to equip police in his district, help schools and improve roads and the Southern Maryland bus network. His $96 million in earmarks includes projects he sponsored alone and with other legislators, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Republicans had come under fire as earmarks tripled during their 12 years of congressional control, to nearly 13,000 in 2006. Some projects, such as a $223 million bridge to a sparsely populated Alaskan island -- dubbed a "bridge to nowhere" -- stirred public ridicule.
(Continued here.)
By Mary Beth Sheridan
Washington Post
Even as House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer has joined in steps to clean up pork-barrel spending, the Maryland congressman has tucked $96 million worth of pet projects into next year's federal budget, including $450,000 for a campaign donor's foundation.
Hoyer (D) is one of the top 10 earmarkers in the House for 2008, based on budget requests in bills so far, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, an independent watchdog group.
Earmarks are spending items inserted into bills to benefit designated companies or projects, often in the sponsoring lawmaker's district. They make up a small percentage of the federal budget. But because the grants often aren't subject to competitive bidding or much scrutiny, they can go to projects that are wasteful or reward campaign contributors, watchdog groups say.
Congressional leaders obtain a disproportionate share of approved earmarks, showing "these decisions are based on political muscle rather than project merit," said Ryan Alexander, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Hoyer defends his earmarks, saying they fund such worthy causes as cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and supporting local military bases. For 2008, he has requested millions of dollars to equip police in his district, help schools and improve roads and the Southern Maryland bus network. His $96 million in earmarks includes projects he sponsored alone and with other legislators, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Republicans had come under fire as earmarks tripled during their 12 years of congressional control, to nearly 13,000 in 2006. Some projects, such as a $223 million bridge to a sparsely populated Alaskan island -- dubbed a "bridge to nowhere" -- stirred public ridicule.
(Continued here.)
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1 Comments:
So, Hoyer and the Democrats believe in 'good pork'?!! That's like believing in 'reverse discrimiation' - 'good pork' is an oxymoron. pork is pork - good, bad, or indifferent. It's bad policy and amounts to nothing more than quid pro quo payoffs. And the problem with the Republicans is that they didn't raise taxes to pay for their earmarks? Gimme a break.
The concept of 'well, they're good earmarks because we Democrats are in control' does not address the problem, but makes it worse because not only do you have runaway earmarks, but also you have a political party that believes their motivations for continuing earkarms are genuine over those irresponsible Republicans.
Just more of the same-old same-old in Washington. Only by passing an earmark ban will discipline be restored to the system.
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