Return to Article: Appropriators foresee tough times if McCain wins White House
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58046
I find it somewhat interesting in these comments and the article in general that while one party is rolling on a platform of change, when the other party introduces true change, the "party of change" wants things to stay the same.
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57833
Just because it's always been done doesn't make it right. And it certainly doesn't make it fiscally responsible.
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57802
McCain is a team player and you can be sure earmarks proposed by Democrats will be considered wasteful spending and those going to Republican districts will be necessary projects. If we weren't spending 10 billion a month on foreign occupation wars we could fund home projects that could give Americans jobs. Why are we building bridges and schools in Iraq while American bridges are deteriorating and our schools are in disrepair? McCain favors a hundred year war in Iraq and has Iran on deck for a new war. We can expect only more George Bush idiocy from McCain.
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57773
I was surprised by the title of the article - should have been more unbiased. Pork barrel spending is crippling America. If it's really that important, introduce it as such -- don't just slip it in. I am in favor of Congress being harder on themselves to scrutinize and be fiscally competent in their appropriations for spending and in the President's power to line-item veto Pork barrel spending. It's amazing the kind of spending that gets tucked into bills that has nothing to do with the actual bill. Then again, that's how my state received a Multi-million dollar new building with an outgoing Senator's name on it. Nice that he could "contribute" that landmark.
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57768
Seldom have a read a funnier or more arrogant piece. It is funny in that the writer takes the comments of the pigs at the trough at face value. Arrogant in that the pigs believe what they are saying and are proud of their wasteful and sordid eating habits.
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57764
Just maybe rather than arguing over earmarks Congress should consider all the money wasted by continuing resolutions. Having spent 35 years in Government procurement, I can say without doubt that stoping and starting contracts and creating options that did not exist to a particular date in a continuing resolution is very expensive.
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57755
It is totally irresponsible to distract the American public by pointing a finger at earmarks that represent less than 1% of the annual Federal budget while we continue with each budget cycle to contribute to the national deficit. This is fiscal reform? Eliminating all the earmarks entirely will not affect the budget nor reduce National expenditures one bit. I am still waiting for a real debate on spending to begin--neither party will address the big issue: We are spending our kids money and the country is going bankrupt and will never get out from under the weight of the deficit unless substantial reform occurs versus more symbolic gestures.
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57752
One of the best ways to reduce "government waste" is to rescind outdated mandates and reporting requirements places on agencies. If Senator McCain would order agencies to send to the Congress lists of outdated reporting requirements with a request that they be rescinded, a lot of government resources could be freed up to focus on the needs of citizens. The recently released 2008 survey of Federal CFOs estimates that Federal financial organizations expend about 25% of their resources doing meaningless compliance reports and other mandates. If the rest of government organizations expend a similar amount of their resources producing reports that no one uses, think of the efficiency improvement McCain could achieve with this one simple idea.
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57750
You can tell a Democrat wrote the article. The part about McCain knowing anything and helping STOP wasteful Govt. spending is buried in the middle of the article so only the title catches your attention to get people not to vote for him.
"I have worked with John for a long time, and I have found that if he questions one of my projects and I tell him what the importance of it is, he listens, and sometimes he will agree that, yes, it does have merit and sometimes he doesn't. But I have found him to be fair," Hutchison said. She also stressed that McCain would understand how to work with Congress, adding, "He knows that he will win some [confrontations with Congress] and he will lose some." Of course Patty Murray (Democrat) would say McCain would be hard to work with. I'm sure McCain would feel the same about her. The Government needs to look at the budget, the special interest groups lobbying, the spending and it all needs to be revamped by whomever becomes the next president.
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57749
If an appropriation is so important (and some are) it ought to be able to stand alone on its own merits, subject to review and debate. There is no excuse for tucking these things in as riders on other important legislation. Often the caption of the legislation gives no clue as to all of the added baggage that is loaded onto it. It such appropriations can't stand "the light of day" and public review, they ought not be funded. I am sure the "bone marrow" appropriation would have passed muster in a Congress with a consience and compassion as its own item. Congress is a national level office and it needs to start spending on national needs not local or special interest projects.
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57746
It is these Congress members who need to re-read the Constitution (or read it for the first time, as may be the case). Yes, the Congress appropriates, but in accordance with the constitutionally prescribed legislative process (Art. I, Sec. 7).
The budget is an Executive branch document prepared in accordance with the U.S. Code of Law as created by the Congress over the years.
Congress can direct the Executive to, for example, develop and maintain an interstate highway system, but neither the Congress nor any of its individual members has any constitutional authority to direct the Executive to "build the part in my district first because I'm the chairman of the transportation committee", and particularly not after the legislative process is completed, and certainly without a vote of either chamber.
That is the type of "earmarking" activity that is so broadly practiced today, and that is so broadly (and justifiably) criticized. Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin seem to get this better than most; they're keenly aware that the Constitution is on their side of this issue; and they seem to have the kind of tenacity necessary to take it on.
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57745
It is these Congress members who need to re-read the Constitution (or read it for the first time, as may be the case). Yes, the Congress appropriates, but in accordance with the constitutionally prescribed legislative process (Art. I, Sec. 7).
The budget is an Executive branch document prepared in accordance with the U.S. Code of Law as created by the Congress over the years.
Congress can direct the Executive to, for example, develop and maintain an interstate highway system, but neither the Congress nor any of its individual members has any constitutional authority to direct the Executive to "build the part in my district first because I'm the chairman of the transportation committee", and particularly not after the legislative process is completed, and certainly without a vote of either chamber.
That is the type of "earmarking" activity that is so broadly practiced today, and that is so broadly (and justifiably) criticized. Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin seem to get this better than most; they're keenly aware that the Constitution is on their side of this issue; and they seem to have the kind of tenacity necessary to take it on.
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57742
I guess if something gets repeated often enough, it becomes 'fact'. Like the suggestion that Palin is a 'fiscal conservative'. The facts, however, do not support this assertion.
As mayor of her village, she lobbied hard for earmarks and received some $25 million for them. Some may say she was representing her constitutents and that's fine, but she should not misrepresent what she did. She was at the trough looking for earmark handouts. Members of Congress that champion earmarks say they just respond to constituent requests. If that's true, then the requests should be seen as part of the problem.
The there's the a myth that she opposed Sen. Stevens "bridge-to-nowhere". As candidate for Governor she supported it. It appears that her opposition was to using state funds to complement the federal funds. At any rate, she accepted the federal funds allocated for the bridge and now can spend it as she pleases.
Fiscal conservative or spin mistress?
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57739
We will likely be under a continuing resolution until 20 Jan 2009. If Obama gets elected, we will probably have a budget shortly after that. If McCain gets elected, we may have continuing resolution for months based on this story. How long can a continuing resolution government continue?
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57734
Appropriators say the practice is protected under the Constitution? How can this be when they are inserted in bills without scrutiny or a vote? Most times they are inserted into bills that are almost impossible for the President to veto. One stated "To me that earmark was really worthwhile". If so, why didn't he put it to a vote instead of sneaking it into the budget? No more earmarks for these greedy buffoons. Line item veto is just what any President needs.
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57728
And to think the government is responsible for reducing wasteful spending and being good stewards of taxpayer's money. Shame on you McCain for wanting to reduce the pork in government spending. Seriously, from a taxpayer prospective I can't believe Congress is worried that their pet projects might suffer some setbacks. D.C. needs to undergo a major overhaul.
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57725
I don't think McCain has a heartburn over the Bone Marrow Donor earmark. I would bet all earmarks are not so justifiable and are a waste of money but is somebody's "Pet program." These are the ones needed to be gotten rid of.
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57720
McCain may have had problems in the past with earmarks, but his running mate sure has not. As mayor, she hired a lobbyist to get her hometown 26 million dollars and left the town in debt! Some reformer! Further, she ran for governor supporting the "Bridge to nowhere", but as governor, she withdrew her support, but kept the money! I thought an earmark was just that - earmarked for a special project only! Why was she allowed to keep the money if she was not going to use it for the earmarked project? I want the money back in the US Treasury!
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57717
You know, I have read through the United States Constitution several times now, and I am totally unable to find anywhere that it even implies, much less states, that Congress is allowed to earmark funds for certain projects or anything of that nature. It DOES, however, clearly state that all powers not explicitly given to the Federal Government are reserved to the various States. I see lots and lots of laws where the Federal Government has clearly stepped over that line by a country mile. In the case of earmarks, my own personal feeling from reading the Constitution is that the Federal Government is supposed to be looking out for the nation as a whole, NOT for individual states. Members of the House of Representatives are to represent the people, and Senators are to represent their States, but they are supposed to vote on national issues as the majority of the voters in their districts/states want them to vote, NOT for special projects to get themselves re-elected, NOR for those special interest groups (including non-voting corporations, businesses, religiuos groups, etc.) who are nowhere near the majority of the voters in their district/state.
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57710
Does ANYONE really believe that a single person, as president, will really change the way "the establishment" has been operating for decades? The presidential candidates make it sound as if they are applying for the position of principle at an elementary school where most kids are scared to go to the principle's office if they don't comply with the principle's rules. We're talking about the house and the senate here, not your neighborhood elementary school. If you really believe, you might as well lobby for the FAA to start regulating those flying pigs that are crowding our skies and creating havoc for the airlines. After all, all the good deals on bridges are gone - sold out.
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57701
The current congressional earmark process needs reform--it is nothing less than sanctioned graft. For every worthwhile earmark there are a 100 whose only purpose is to serve vested interests. If earmarks are so necessary why have legislators resisted efforts to make the process transparent?
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57698
Interesting the Democratic protaginists are also hold key DNC roles or are personally connected to the results of their earmarks (Murtha). Hey, I have nothing against earmarks, as long as they are responsible and serve the public good. The Congress needs to have some standards and principles about these, allow open and honest discussion regarding their merits, and then make decisions that the whole nation gets access to. If an earmark cannot stand-up to this type of scrutiny, then is it an earmark that truly benefits or advances our society. By the way, according to the recent Fedweek, on page 3 it shows a comparison of the Party Platforms. Seems both want the line item veto brought back. So stop the partisanship and finger pointing and tell it ike it is; but that's a lot to ask of the present Congress.
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