Congressman and FR Blogger John Campbell has co-signed a letter along with Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake to the Chairman of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, asking that the $230 million in earmarks being sponsored by now-convicted Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska be thoroughly reviewed.
This seems like a good idea.
Congressman Flake has this to say in a press release accompanying the letter:
“Despite the fact that Senator Stevens was under indictment for corruption charges, his 39 earmarks worth $240 million received scant scrutiny this year,” said Flake. “I would hope that his conviction spurs Congress to examine these earmarks more closely before they are awarded.”
“If the Appropriations Committee isn’t interested in scrutinizing the earmarks of a convicted Senator, I think we can fairly conclude that the Appropriations Committee isn’t interested in scrutinizing earmarks at all.”
Duh.