Senate Refuses to Reject Earmarks

Like a crack cocaine addict fighting to keep hold of his pipe, the Senate rejected an attempt by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) to prevent senators from earmarking spending bills with pork barrel projects designed to buy votes in their home districts.

Disappointingly, fifteen Republicans joined with the Democrats in killing the moratorium on earmarks.  The amendment was rejected in a landslide 68-29 vote.

Republicans as a whole have consistently shown much more moral behavior in maintaining discipline against using taxpayer funds for personal gain. 178 members of the House of Representatives have sworn not to use earmarks in 2010. All are Republicans.

Unfortunately, not all Republicans have behaved as laudably. Of the seven congressmen caught last year for creating earmarks to benefit and encourage campaign contributors, two were Republicans, Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) and C.W. Bill Young (R-FL). It is the responsibility of the Republican Party to show moral courage by not nominating these two gentlemen for office once their current terms expire.

Pork barrel projects are theft from taxpayers and, as our government is operating deeply in debt, a theft from the children and grandchildren of taxpayers. And where does the money go? Instead of going into our children’s college funds, it goes to uses like these:

• $325,000 to the Institute for Seafood Studies
• $250,000 to the Monroe County Farmer’s Market
• $150,000 to restore the Tarrytown Music Hall
• $100,000 to the Myrtle Beach Conference Center

James Madison said “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on the objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.”  Apparently the current members of congress are far better at laying their fingers on things than President Madison.

If you’re interested in how your congress critters are stealing your money, find out more in the Club For Growth’s annual RePork Card.