From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary E-mail…
A ban on earmarks is set to be debated by the 47-member Senate Republican Conference tomorrow. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has been meeting with fellow GOP Senators one-on-one to convince them to vote against a moratorium on earmarks for the upcoming Congress.
The earmark ban was introduced in the House by Minority Leader John Boehner and Minority Whip Eric Cantor. It will pass easily. In the Senate, the earmark ban is being pushed by South Carolina’s Jim DeMint. The Senate leadership is split on the issue, with Mr. McConnell opposed and Minority Whip Jon Kyl undecided. John Cornyn of Texas, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee; Policy Committee Chairman John Ensign of Nevada; and John Barrasso of Wyoming, the vice-chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, are all in favor.
Politico.com reports that 15 Senators have signed on as co-sponsors to Mr. DeMint’s proposal and 13 Senators are strongly against it. The 19 Senators who are undeclared have been subject to pressure from the tea party. Several voted for a ban on the Senate floor in March when it garnered 25 of 41 GOP votes, but some may not wish to cross Mr. McConnell after he has twisted arms. Complicating matters is the fact that the vote will be by secret ballot.
Should the ban fail, the perception will be that Senate Republicans are sliding backwards on commitments to rein in spending abuses. Joe Ricketts, the founder of Ameritrade and chairman of Taxpayers Against Earmarks, says "if the moratorium fails, the American people will know that the public sentiments of some members do not match their private actions. And that is not the change they voted for."
Mr. DeMint cheerfully welcomes late converts to his cause. He acknowledged on Fox News yesterday that he used to push for projects in his home state. "I am a recovering earmarker," Mr. DeMint said. "Thank God there’s a recovery group called the tea party." He has concluded that better alternatives to earmarks would involve distributing federal money to states — for such projects as highways — through block or competitive grants.
Here’s hoping enough GOP Senators support this baby step towards fiscal sanity. The decisions on how to rein in federal spending only get tougher from here.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Lets face it….
Historically: Many incompetent, sleezeeeee and egomaniac attornies ran for public office to live off the fat of the public’s toil rationing out favors, creating fear and anxiety all to gain gifts, donations to elections, exotic trips and fine wine and some even antiques, bimbos, naive,helpless pages and interns, boats and other play toys!!!!
Earmarks is the highest form of corruption that faces citizens each and every day….why should a toilet bowl politican have the power to take our money and pay off their buds and budettes….