BlogWatch: Earmarks Unleashed!

This week it’s all about earmarks!  Here is a quick run-through of some of the most interesting blogs published this week on the subject.  Feel free to check out Wikipedia for a concise description of “earmarks” and “pork barrel spending.” CNN describes earmarks as, “…requests for money by a specific legislator, usually for his constituency, added onto often unrelated government spending bills.” 

Yesterday, the Senate overwhelmingly voted against a proposal to place a ban on “earmark” spending for one year. CNN reported the following: 

Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama voted in favor of the amendment.  

"We're disappointed that only 29 members of the U.S. Senate understand that the American people want us to stop this practice, which has led to corruption," McCain said.

Over at OMB Watch Dana Chasin posted a quick bit on earmarks and their supposed negative affect on scientific research.  Chasin quotes the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy: 

“Research earmarks—in general the assignment of money during the legislative process for use by a specific organization or project—are counter to a merit-based competitive selection process that has been a hallmark of American scientific prowess since the post World War II era. However, over the past 20 years, the number of earmarks has risen dramatically and threatens to undermine a vital process underpinning U.S. scientific greatness.” 

On the Club for Growth blog, Andrew Roth offers up some interesting news about pork barrel spending.  He begins his piece with the following: “Lawmakers are starting to swear off earmarks faster than I can type these words.”  According to Roth, Dem. Rep. Jim Cooper is planning to cut out pork barrel spending, which is pretty significant considering that he has a record on the issue: 

“Cooper is the 4th House Democrat to swear off pork, and the 29th House member overall. Welcome to the "Just Say No to Pork" coalition, Rep. Cooper!” 

And over at Americans for Prosperity grassroots members of the organization are asking for a swift ban on earmarks: 

“This halt to earmarks would help lawmakers on Capitol Hill refocus our national spending priorities and allow meaningful earmark reform to take root.”