Op/Ed: Congressional earmarks fund critical projects in Louisiana

Sen. Mary Landrieu, Lake Charles American Press

8/08/10:

Handling 58 million tons of cargo annually and moving almost 10 percent of the nation’s domestic oil supply, the Port of Lake Charles is the heart of economic activity in Southwest Louisiana and the gateway for goods to reach Americans from coast to coast. Ensuring the health of the nation’s 11th largest port involves many factors, including proper maintenance of the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

In recent years, because of inadequate funding for dredging, Calcasieu Ship Channel users have been mandated to reduce vessel drafts, including tankers, from 40 to 38 feet. For the refineries at the Port, this restriction reduces each tanker load by approximately 40,000 barrels of cargo. To remedy this situation and provide proper dredging, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers needs an estimated $44 million to $60 million per year. This important work was able to move forward last year in part thanks to a $2 million Congressionally directed investment, commonly referred to as an “earmark.”

Despite all the political rhetoric, the fact remains that targeted earmarks are critical to community projects throughout Louisiana, like the dredging of the ship channel. Without valuable and timely input from Senators and House Members, cold formulas and Washington-based agencies determine spending levels without the benefit of important local information. Congress directs less than one percent of federal spending through earmarks, but it is an important one percent. Just ask the Port of Lake Charles.

In the Constitution, our government’s architects specifically gave control of the federal purse to Congress because they wanted the officials who make important budgetary decisions to be directly accountable to the people. The President’s budget was not even established by law until the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921.

Self-proclaimed watchdog groups contend earmarks represent wasteful spending that increases our federal deficit. To the contrary, earmarks direct money already budgeted. Under the rules of Congress, these funding commitments do not add a single penny to deficit.

A total earmark ban, like that approved by House Republicans, is like prescribing blood pressure medication to someone who has cancer. Americans have not asked Congress to forgo complete discretion when it comes to budgets. Louisianians and people across this nation have rightly demanded Congress be more transparent and establish tougher criteria in the earmark process.

The Democratic-led Appropriations Committees have clearly made it a priority to be open, honest, and transparent, so that only the most worthy and meritorious projects are awarded federal dollars. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I welcome this trend and have stepped up my office’s efforts to give taxpayers access to information on the earmarks Louisiana receives.

Every funding request I make is a specific ask on behalf of local governments, non-profit organizations and community groups. During the first few months of each year, my office is inundated with formal requests from entities, like the Port of Lake Charles, asking for assistance from the federal government. After vetting each request, I submit a full list of projects and programs to the Appropriations Committee for its review.

This process is conducted in an open and transparent manner. Every single request is posted on my website with information about the amount requested, the requesting entity and the purpose of the project. Additionally, I certify to the Committee that neither I, nor any member of my immediate family, have a financial interest in any of the projects for which I have requested funds.

So long as banning earmarks is being used to try to score political points with some voters, the debate will continue. But Louisianians deserve the truth about the earmarking process. I have been proud to help open up that process, and so long as I am in the Senate, I will defend the requests I have made on behalf the state. Given our tremendous challenges in education, health care, coastal restoration and infrastructure, Louisiana deserves its fair share of annual federal spending.