Breaking their promise to run “the most open and honest Congress in history,” House Democrats have set up slush funds for secret earmarks in appropriations bills this year. Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI) confirmed yesterday that earmarks will remain secret during the House appropriations process, thus eliminating the opportunity for members to challenge potentially wasteful spending items and gutting a key GOP earmark reform enacted by Republicans last year. Editorials and headlines across the country are taking note, highlighting the Democrats’ hypocrisy:
“Favor Czar,” Baltimore Sun Editorial, June 11, 2007
“Roll Out the Barrel,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial, June 11, 2007
“Keep Earmarks Where Public Can Eye Them,” Chicago Sun Times, June 8, 2007
“Pork-Barrel Reform Should Stay on Track,” Wisconsin State Journal, June 6, 2007
“Pet Projects Pushed Out of Public Eye,” St. Petersburg Times Editorial, June 5, 2007
“Democratic Earmark Reforms Lasted 100 Days,” Las Vegas Review-Journal Editorial, June 5, 2007
“Sweet Smell of Money Slowing Democrats’ Promised Reforms,” Pensacola News Journal, June 5, 2007
“Broken Promise on Pork,” New Jersey Star-Ledger, June 5, 2007
“House Keeps Pet Projects From Scrutiny,” Associated Press, June 3, 2007
“Congressional Pork Too Tasty to Leave Alone,” The Missoulian Editorial, May 31, 2007
“Backtracking on Earmarks,” Toledo Blade Editorial, May 26, 2007
“Lawmaker Worsens Earmarks’ Bad Name,” San Antonio Express-News Editorial, May 24, 2007
“In the Democratic Congress, Pork Still Gets Served,” Washington Post, May 24, 2007
“Flood of Earmarks Refill the Swamp,” Washington Examiner Editorial, May 22, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Editorials Blast Democrats' Slush Funds for Secret Earmarks
Via email:
