” The truth is, our earmark system in Washington is fraught with abuse. It badly needs reform – which is why I didn’t request a single earmark last year, why I’ve released all my previous requests for the public to see, and why I’ve pledged to slash earmarks by more than half when I am president of the United States of America.” Barack Obama, September 22, 2008
“Absolutely, we need earmark reform. And when I’m president, I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely.” Barack Obama, September 26, 2008
But when they start characterizing this as pork, without acknowledging that there are no earmarks in this package – something, again, that was pretty rare over the last eight years – then you get a feeling that maybe we’re playing politics instead of actually trying to solve problems for the American people.” Barack Obama, February 9, 2009
I’m proud that we passed the recovery plan free of earmarks.” Barack Obama, February 24, 2009
Lies. All lies. Do you care?
In the Omnibus Spending Bill currently being debated in congress there are over 8,500 earmarks for a grand total of more than $7Billion, at least one of which an earmark sponsored by Obama himself. An earmark for $7.7million for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Program remains in the Omnibus Bill.
Not only does President Obama have earmarks in the Omnibus Spending Bill–which was drawn up last year when Obama was still a Senator, but several members of his cabinet also have earmarks remaining in the bill.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has $31.2 million in earmarks for the National Museum of American History in Washington as well as $380,000 to replace vehicles for the disabled and funds for police radio upgrades, agriculture research and equipment at a planetarium in Peoria, Illinois. Peoria, mind you, is his home town. LaHood will also be the administrator of 4 of his own earmarks within his new capacity as Transportation Secretary.
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis earmarked the cost of police equipment in Covina, Monterey Park and Baldwin Park, California, total cost $814,000. Her total earmarks total $38.4 million.
Vice President Joe Biden is responsible for $94.9 million in earmarks.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is responsible for $227.4 million in earmarks.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is responsible for $109 million in earmarks.
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is responsible a little bit more than $4.7 million in earmarks.
On the House floor Representative Jeff Flake called out the earmarks, stating, “the Justice Department is investigating the connection between earmarks and campaign contributions.” By a vote of 226 to 182, the House killed a proposal by Mr. Flake calling on the House ethics committee to investigate such connections.Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is the current poster-boy and possible candidate for President on the Republican side for 2012, and in his response to President Obama’s pseudo-State-of-the-Union address on Tuesday stated, “Republicans lost the public’s trust in recent years because they went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington.
Today, however, Republican Congressional leadership sent a letter to President Obama stating in part, “(the Omnibus Spending Bill) openly defies your commendable objectives of fiscal transparency and accountability. It contains nearly 9,000 ‘airdropped’ earmarks, most of which were not even considered in committee let alone on the House floor as is routine – compared to roughly 4,000 in 1994. This is a wonderful opportunity for bipartisanship and strong leadership. Republicans want to work with you to bring spending-as-usual to a halt in Washington and to impose a new standard of bipartisan fiscal discipline that reflects the sacrifices being made by families and small businesses across America. We stand ready to work with you to produce a better bill.”
Ironically, over 40% of the earmarks in the Omnibus Spending Bill are supported by Republicans, meaning that there is a disconnect between GOP rhetoric of fiscal restraint and their actual legislative policy.
Sources:
Foxnews.com,Two Obama Cabinet Members Added Earmarks to Omnibus Spending Bill, by Chad Pergram The New York Times, House Passes Spending Bill, and Critics Are Quick to Point Out Pork, by Robert Pear
CQ Politics, President’s Inner Circle Has Earmarks in Omnibus, by Jonathan Allen
Politico, GOP wants Obama to veto omnibus, by Patrick O’Connor
