Newt Gingrich reaches out to his readers for Real Change in Earmarks
In essence he asks for support for President Bush and GOP leaders in reigning in earmarks.
“The country is speaking loudly and clearly. The American people are rejecting the special interests, and the bureaucratic status quo in Washington. The question for you now is: What are you going to do about it?”
Well, today at least on one front, the answer is in. President Bush and the Congress, led by House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio), are leading an all-out fight for real change by ending the undemocratic, corrupt practice of pork-barrel spending through earmarks.
As an independent I find this superficially self serving. The recent explosion of earmarks began with Speaker Tom Delay using pork to help preserve the seats of incumbent GOP congressman. These continue even through the current proposed Federal Budget. But now that the GOP is about to lose control of some or all of the government they have seen the light and want to reign in spending. And they will use any Democratic resistance to their marketing advantage.
To this I say several things.
One, the Dems should dramatically reduce their contribution to legislatively directed funding (earmarks).
Two, if the GOP wants to persuade a moderate independent like me that they are sincere and not just politically posturing, they should unilaterally reduce all GOP earmark requests until the Dems catch up to their recent excesses; Tied to a mutual agreement to dramatically reform the use of earmarks.
I hope that as the hypocrisy of excessive partisanship is exposed more voters will become skeptical Independents, who will demand candor and integrity from both parties.
Born 1950, Married, Living in Austin Texas, Semi
Retired Small Business owner and investor. My political interest
evolved out of his business experience that the best decisions come out of an objective gathering of information and a pragmatic consideration of costs and benefits. I am interested in promoting Centrist candidates and Policies. My posts are mostly about people and policies that I believe are part of the solution rather the problem.