2008 Woodie Awards
Reflections on earmarks would improve fiscal discipline
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: OpEd Page
The issue of pork-barrel spending is one that is both complex and widely debated. Congressional earmarks, the substance of which is popularly referred as pork-barrel spending, are part of Congress's appropriations bills that direct how U.S. government funds shall be spent. Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution states "no money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law." In this age where the presidency is given the preponderance of media coverage and public attention, it is easy to forget that the budget the president submits merely offers guidance to the Congress as it considers where and for what the government will really spend its money.
Because the Congress is given control of government expenditures by Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution, it also assumes the responsibility to be a conscientious steward of taxpayer money. Yet, though many members of Congress act with the best interests of the country in mind, there are some who abuse the system in order to increase their political clout within their districts. Thus, vast sums of money are spent in every fiscal year to fund items that are prima facie cases of wastefulness.
Mind you, vast sums truly means vast sums, numbers that would boggle the mind of most people except for the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and members of Congress. Citizens Against Government Waste, the taxpayer-lobbying group that publishes the annual "Pig Book" which exposes the Congress's annual pork production, tallies up FY2008 pork barrel spending at more than $17 billion. That is comparable to the GDP of Iceland.
Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) have highlighted wasteful pork-barrel spending as an issue which shows clear contrast between Republican and Democratic visions for how taxpayer money should be spent. Though Democrats included earmark reform as one of their campaign pledges prior to the 2006 election, it is the Republican leadership that is actively working on improving the appropriations process.
Because the Congress is given control of government expenditures by Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution, it also assumes the responsibility to be a conscientious steward of taxpayer money. Yet, though many members of Congress act with the best interests of the country in mind, there are some who abuse the system in order to increase their political clout within their districts. Thus, vast sums of money are spent in every fiscal year to fund items that are prima facie cases of wastefulness.
Mind you, vast sums truly means vast sums, numbers that would boggle the mind of most people except for the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and members of Congress. Citizens Against Government Waste, the taxpayer-lobbying group that publishes the annual "Pig Book" which exposes the Congress's annual pork production, tallies up FY2008 pork barrel spending at more than $17 billion. That is comparable to the GDP of Iceland.
Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) have highlighted wasteful pork-barrel spending as an issue which shows clear contrast between Republican and Democratic visions for how taxpayer money should be spent. Though Democrats included earmark reform as one of their campaign pledges prior to the 2006 election, it is the Republican leadership that is actively working on improving the appropriations process.
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