Redstate

Congress, Earmarks

By Pejman Yousefzadeh Posted in Congress — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

It's good to be the House Majority Leader:

Even as House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer has joined in steps to clean up pork-barrel spending, the Maryland congressman has tucked $96 million worth of pet projects into next year's federal budget, including $450,000 for a campaign donor's foundation.

Hoyer (D) is one of the top 10 earmarkers in the House for 2008, based on budget requests in bills so far, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, an independent watchdog group.

Earmarks are spending items inserted into bills to benefit designated companies or projects, often in the sponsoring lawmaker's district. They make up a small percentage of the federal budget. But because the grants often aren't subject to competitive bidding or much scrutiny, they can go to projects that are wasteful or reward campaign contributors, watchdog groups say.

The story goes on to argue that the 110th Congress has made the earmarking process more transparent. This is true, but it was like pulling teeth from the majority to make it happen so it is not as if Hoyer and Co. deserve any real credit for the fact that the earmarking process is more transparent. In addition, early on in the 110th Congress, majority Democrats promised that all pork barrel projects would stop completely. I guess we can file that under the category of "Promises Not Kept."