USA Today has an interesting story about Earmarks in today's paper. Earmarks are spending provisions attached to another unrelated bill to benefit a lawmaker's district and elevate his political stature. Another name for this practice is pork spending. Democrats made this an issue in 2006 and USA Today credits that campaign issue as one key factor in Democrats gaining control of the House of Representatives. Now Democrats are using Earmarks to help freshmen Democrats viewed as vulnerable in the 2008 campaign - all of the 49 freshmen Democrats have sponsored or co-sponsored an earmark in the current proposed spending legislation.
"Democratic candidates accused GOP incumbents last year of abusing earmarks. Patrick Murphy attacked then-congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., during a debate for failing to make the "tough decisions" on a transportation bill heavy with earmarks, the Bucks County Courier Times reported. Now a representative, Murphy sponsored $11.8 million for local projects and businesses - fourth-highest among House and Senate freshmen. In an e-mail, Murphy pointed to new rules requiring earmark sponsors to be disclosed for the first time. The House also requires members to disclose each earmark recipient. Murphy said he makes "no apologies for fighting hard for my district.""
And politicians wonder why they have approval ratings just below used car salesmen?
Read 'Earmark' Cash Aids Democrat Freshmen in USA Today.
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