2008 Woodie Awards
MU falls behind in funds
With Boehner avoiding earmarks, area schools see decrease in monies
Rachel Perron
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Front Page
When it comes to federal project funding, local colleges and universities in the tri-state area are millions of dollars ahead of Miami University.
Miami falls in Rep. John Boehner's (R-West Chester) district. Boehner, who is also the minority leader, has voiced his opposition to earmarks.
According to Bryan Marshall, political science professor and the department's congressional specialist, an earmark is a provision in legislation, requested by a member of Congress that awards funds to a project (or "pet project") sponsored by that member.
"(Earmarks) are an effective way that members can go get a piece of the pork and target it at their home district," Marshall said.
Marshall said that earmarks are also a way politicians can increase their popularity among voters.
If so, then Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Hebron), and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) must be very popular among Kentuckians right now; they sponsored five projects for Northern Kentucky University, which received a total of $1.5 million in earmark funding-the most of any nearby university.
Although earmarks make up less than one percent of the federal budget, Marshall said, fiscal conservatives like Boehner see them as wasteful pork-barrel spending.
Boehner represents Ohio's 8th district, which is made up of Butler, Montgomery, Darker, Mercer, Miami and Preble counties.
The University of Cincinnati is also located in Boehner's district, and like Miami it received no earmarks this year.
"Congressmen Boehner has never supported earmarks and has made that clear," said Jessica Towhey, Boehner's press secretary. "He has never requested and never accepted an earmark."
Since Boehner has a policy against earmarks, Miami now has to ask congressmen in other districts to sponsor their projects, said Randi Thomas, director of institutional relations at Miami.
However, Thomas said asking for money from other congressmen is a tricky challenge for Miami since congressmen would rather support universities from their own district.
Miami falls in Rep. John Boehner's (R-West Chester) district. Boehner, who is also the minority leader, has voiced his opposition to earmarks.
According to Bryan Marshall, political science professor and the department's congressional specialist, an earmark is a provision in legislation, requested by a member of Congress that awards funds to a project (or "pet project") sponsored by that member.
"(Earmarks) are an effective way that members can go get a piece of the pork and target it at their home district," Marshall said.
Marshall said that earmarks are also a way politicians can increase their popularity among voters.
If so, then Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Hebron), and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) must be very popular among Kentuckians right now; they sponsored five projects for Northern Kentucky University, which received a total of $1.5 million in earmark funding-the most of any nearby university.
Although earmarks make up less than one percent of the federal budget, Marshall said, fiscal conservatives like Boehner see them as wasteful pork-barrel spending.
Boehner represents Ohio's 8th district, which is made up of Butler, Montgomery, Darker, Mercer, Miami and Preble counties.
The University of Cincinnati is also located in Boehner's district, and like Miami it received no earmarks this year.
"Congressmen Boehner has never supported earmarks and has made that clear," said Jessica Towhey, Boehner's press secretary. "He has never requested and never accepted an earmark."
Since Boehner has a policy against earmarks, Miami now has to ask congressmen in other districts to sponsor their projects, said Randi Thomas, director of institutional relations at Miami.
However, Thomas said asking for money from other congressmen is a tricky challenge for Miami since congressmen would rather support universities from their own district.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Markus V.
posted 4/01/08 @ 11:49 AM EST
Members like Rep. Boehner who oppose earmarks are doing nothing more than grasping at low-hanging political fruit to the detriment of their constituencies. (Continued…)
WES
posted 11/08/08 @ 12:36 PM EST
While I do agree that congress needs to cut down on wasteful spending, there are some things that are worth a little extra here and there.
Also, you need to check your facts. (Continued…)
Made His Bed
posted 11/11/08 @ 11:29 AM EST
Hodge made his bed. Sleep in it.
Kurt Kuster
posted 11/11/08 @ 7:25 PM EST
Boehner has a hard time going to bat for a little pork to throw Miami's way, but he has not problem taking thousands of dollars from energy and tobacco lobbyists -- even handed out campaign contribution checks from tobacco lobbyists on the floor of the house. (Continued…)
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