Crush of earmarks in defense bill gives yet another lesson in horse-trading
Journalists talk about congressional earmarks in terms of lobbyists’ shenanigans, or legislators helping themselves and their pals.
But pause for a moment and consider that there are 97 pages listing nearly 1,000 congressional earmarks in the 543-page report by the House-Senate conferees on the $626 billion defense appropriations bill signed by President Obama this month.
They cover every category from procurement to operations and maintenance to research and development, with the last group alone spanning more than 77 of those pages. Who is to say what kind of impact these separate transfers of what may be $5 billion will have on our defense posture — and on our intelligence operations, since that money is also in the bill?
Wait… didn’t Obama say he would not tolerate “pork barrel” and “earmark” legislation?
January 25th, 2010 3:44 pm
Today’s Headline about the White House and Congress:
THEY OWE: $12,245,872,000,000
Actually WE OWE: $12,245,872,000,000
January 25th, 2010 3:47 pm
If that was miles it would be about halfway to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri.
Since inflation is coming, probably with a vengeance, by next year that’ll make the national debt a mere 6 trillion dollars in 2009 money…. none of which will be available.
January 25th, 2010 8:51 pm
It sure feels good running up those credit cards, though. What a country!
January 25th, 2010 10:54 pm
There was an old joke about not being out of money because there are checks left in the checkbook. It looks like we can’t be out of money, because there is always next tax season (and generation) still left.
January 27th, 2010 1:36 am
Not to worry – The President is going to order a 3 year freeze on federal spending. Like the winner of a pie eating contest declaring he’s going on a diet. Hypocrisy, thy name is Obama.
January 27th, 2010 7:38 am
And, as I understand it, he is going to freeze 17% of the government spending. He isn’t controlling the other 83%. Isn’t that like putting a spending limit on just 1 credit card?