GOP Leader Blog

GOP Bans Earmarks: When Will Democrats Listen to the American People?
Posted by Kevin Boland on November 18, 2010
House Republicans today unanimously adopted a resolution offered by Representative-elect Sean Duffy (R-WI) to ban earmarks in the people’s House.  Mr. Duffy will soon represent the same district as current Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI), author of the infamous “stimulus” bill.  But when will congressional Democrats hold a similar vote, and when will President Obama call on them to do so?

Judging by their track record, Democrats may never get around to banning earmarks.  Check out what then-Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said in 2006:
“Ms. Pelosi also spoke out against earmarking billions of dollars for home-state projects, a practice she calls a ‘monster’ that hurts Congress.  If she becomes speaker in the next Congress, she says, she would press to severely reduce earmarks. ‘Personally, myself, I'd get rid of all of them,’ she says.” (The Wall Street Journal, 7/13/06, A4)
Speaker Pelosi and Washington Democrats have had four years to ban earmarks – and never did.  The new Republican majority has already moved to ban earmarks even before the start of the 112th Congress, earning support of support of both House and Senate Republicans, as Reuters recently noted:
Republicans in both the Senate and the House of Representatives have now forsworn earmarks as they eye large spending cuts in the coming year…Though earmarks account for less than one half of a percent of the federal budget, they have become a symbol of wasteful spending for many grassroots Tea Party activists who helped Republicans win big in the November 2 elections.  ‘I think it shows that this conference is serious about doing what it said we were going to be about -- limited government, spending reduction, dealing with the national debt,’ said newly elected Republican Senator Marco Rubio.
With bicameral Republican support of a ban on earmarks, House and Senate Republicans are demonstrating that they are listening to the American people and are serious about restoring trust between the American people and those who are elected to represent them.  As the New York Times noted yesterday, the earmark ban “has quickly emerged as a high-profile if somewhat symbolic test of the willingness of Republicans…to respond to what they see as a message of the midterm elections.”

Contrast that with Washington Democrats, who have refused to consider an earmark ban, as POLITICO reported last evening:
One day after Republicans challenged them to reject earmarks, Senate Democrats huddled behind closed doors Wednesday and held a ‘long discussion’ on the practice as part of a larger debate over how to balance the federal budget and erase mounting debt...But most Democrats defend the practice of funneling federal dollars to pet projects in their home states.
Yesterday, White House Press Secretary said the President supported the Republicans’ earmark ban:
Q: And real quick on the earmarks, on the earmarks.  I know Obama has come out up front a lot on this, but does he want an outright ban on earmarks?

MR. GIBBS: Yes.

Q: He does?

MR. GIBBS: Yes.
Representative-elect Sean Duffy wrote in an op-ed for POLITICO today that “If we are serious about cutting spending, focusing on creating jobs and reforming Congress, then we must agree: The time for earmarks has come to an end.”  By banning earmarks in the 112th Congress, Republicans have shown they are listening to the American people; when will President Obama and Washington Democrats follow suit?
Comments
The opinions expressed below are those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent those of this office.
  • Margaret Alta Whipple commented on 11/18/2010
    Dear Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank you for standing up for our country, the values, and the issues that are important to us. Thank you for working on banning the earmarks, I'm so tired of hearing that it isn't that much money. A penny saved is a penny earned. Every little bit counts! Our country has been on the road to socialism for a long time, and we as American citizens want to remain a Republic. We ( the majority) have spoken loud and clear and expect our employees to listen to us and do what we want. I am terribly disturbed by the TSA decision to xray us or molest us. I will not fly, but drive from now on. This is against my moral principles. If we have to go thru that then all govt. officials should have to do the same. Fly on commerical flights, and go thru the same security that I would have to do. I will continue to watch as the days go by, and listen to hear what the plans are to get our country back on the right track. I will continue to pray for you and our officials, and our country, and praying that all the decisions will honor God. Sincerely Alta Whipple
  • Susan Armstrong commented on 11/21/2010
    Take charge immediately. Turn back the tidal wave of socialism that has been rising up to overtake our belove, once free America. Cancel the health care bill, cap and trade, efforts to ban or control natural health remedies. and further government control of food resources. Put some reasonable controls on IRS. Gut the beaueaucratic agencies. Abolish the Federal Reserve. Cut all funding for TSA and eliminate this agency completely. Use the Israeli profiling program instead to protect our airlines and citizens. Restore COMMON SENSE and frugality to government and honor the Constitution.
  • Dave Terry commented on 11/27/2010
    Mr. Boehner...Congradulations on your newl reappointment as House Speaker. As for the earmarks, I'm adamently against the practice. I trully believe the practice greatly contributes to our deficit woes. Although economist say that their impact on the budget is barely minimal. It doesn't take alot of common sense to see that the thousands of earmarks presented each year,each containig hundreds of thousands or in some cases millions of dollars, mount up to be a considerable relavince. I was dissapointed but not shocked to see Mr. Reed shelve the vote. This is exactly what the Tea Partys across this nation are against. And we are in no mood to be bi-partisan with the dems. Especially after the rhetoric,smears, accusations of racism, and put downs from the left last year and this year prior to the elections. But vengence is not in this countries best interest.A conservative common sence approach to deal with our deficit and all the economic aspects of our needs is long overdue. If we follow the constitution and refer back to our common sence. We will eventually pull our way out of the financial hole that we have dug for ourselves and restore the nations credit clout back to sustainable levels. Thank you Mr. Boehner for your service to our country and listening to the American people. Mr. Guthrie is my represenative in the House. If he gives you any trouble let me know. I'll send you a cattle prod to help with his cooperation..lol. Mr. Guthrie is a very good represenative of my district. And I'm sure you will find him an asset in any caucus or committee. But tell him the Tea Party at home is watching. God bless America......Sincerely Dave Terry ......Central Ky. Tea Party Patriots
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