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Obama, Clinton join McCain vs. earmarks
It’s only a one year moratorium, but it’s a start. Earmarks aren’t a big deal in the larger scale of budget issues, and many of them may even be good investments in the national interest. But while the GOP would like to think that they are seizing this issue to their advantage I would point out that it was under GOP control that earmarks exploded out of reason, and now, under Democratic leadership, it is being contained.
3 Responses to “Obama, Clinton join McCain vs. earmarks”
[...] Paul Silver has this to say about the GOP’s record on earmarks as a while… But while the GOP would like to think [...]
Well, there's another whopper that I have to call you on, Paul. If you want to make the case that divided govt works best to control corrupt practices like earmarking, I'll agree with you. From the Citizens Against high road and refrained from attempts to add pork to bills):
Now, without dispute, those three Republican senators should have been working as hard to block the pork when their own party was in the majority- but it's also indisputable that the decrease in pork spending last year came about because of their efforts, which forced the Dems to get back on track.
I agree that those Legislators made a difference, but it remains that their colleagues and leadership didn't respond to them but the Democrats have. At least the Democrats can be embarrassed into doing the right thing.
Also it was part of my point that Tom Delay is the one who spearheaded the dramatic increase in earmarks to begin with.