I have no problems with earmarks. There I said it. I actually like them. And yes, that would mean I that I may actually disagree with the President on this issue. I am getting very sick and tired of the Republicans whining about earmarks like they are some sort of cancer on our democracy. Like everything else, they have turned earmarks into the extreme.

I am all for fiscal responsibility and I am for responsible spending. I am, however, even more in favor of our representatives securing money for their constituents. For the most part, this is what earmarks do. It's simply a provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects in the States.

What I find interesting is that this latest brouhaha, the omnibus bill the president signed, is for LAST YEARS fiscal budget. -- you know, the one the previous administration and congress was supposed to get passed. The Republicans are screaming bloody murder over the earmarks, despite that it has less money for projects than in the past, and most of that earmark money in there are actually earmarks that the Republicans put in. They all voted for the bill. Of the 410 billion dollars for LAST years spending bill (signed yesterday) 7.7 billion is considered earmarks. A Lot of money? Yes. Compared to 410 Billion? Not so much. I guess earmarks are only bad if it is for the OTHER states.

Here is the thing: Republicans love to scream about States Rights. They love to scream that the federal government should get out of the "states' business" -- if indeed that is the case, Representatives SHOULD be bringing money and funds to the states so they won't need the feds as much. One would think that the federal government sending money to the states for projects that often create jobs would be a good thing. People who live in those states would rely far LESS on government "hand outs" if they had a means to be self-sufficient, right? States' Rights!!!

Instead, they have turned the earmark into the equivalent of killing puppies. It simply isn't. They aren't Bogeymen. They are ways to help your state and mine. They help fund research for to science, they help secure road repair, they help clean up the environment, among many things.

Are all earmarks good ones? Of course not. That said, not all spending is good, but it still needs to be done. I would rather have money going to the states for targeted spending than to make more bombs and feed the military industrial complex. Maybe the problem is the idea that it is targeted spending. That means that the lovely representatives of our state and local governments must spend the money on the projects voted on. I know that seems to be an issue with the federal stimulus package, People don't seem to like being told what to do. SC is still saying it won't take the money because it must be spent in a specific way. Is this the problem that republicans have with earmarks?

Oh... and here are a few earmarks... I want to thank the staff at John McCain's Office of Twittering (aka: OT) for so lovingly doing the research for ALL Americans. Nice to see our tax dollars at work using the twitter! (disclaimer: I really don't know how many of these are true, and I really don't mind the twitter -- but someone is taking the time to tell us... and that someone is GRANDPA? Somehow I doubt that.)
Isn't that funny how he does a top ten list? Oh funny funny. If these so-called earmarks are true, I can say with some confidence that the people that live in that district on the receiving end of said earmark will be happy, and probably a little more comfortable. While John McCain twitters away, people are crying for these projects. Will some be stupid and wasteful? - yes, but no more wasteful then throwing hundreds of billions of dollars to failing banks with no oversite. No more wasteful than no-bid contracts to companies that are killing our soldiers. These are mostly targeted projects aimed at helping states and local governments, universities and schools.

Let's not fall for the republican talking point that earmarks are bad. They aren't. Quite honestly, NOTHING would get done in DC if every one of these appropriations needed individual passage. Nothing. THAT would be a waste of taxpayers money and time.

Oh, and that part about me disagreeing with the president? I don't. Don't fall for the talking points. Earmarks aren't the evil the Republicans would have you believe.

:peace: and
Raine