More Pork--Not the BBQ Type

I must admit that an hour ago I had no thought of writing this blog about pork barrel spending. Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say "Earmarks". It used to be "pork" until the Congress decided to change the name because of the opposition from taxpayers and the embarrassment that comes with such appropriations. Lets make it clear that even this holiday season with all the unemployment, health care reform, cap and trade, bailouts and stimulus spending that has sent the national debt to unbelievable levels, our horrible economic condition could not prevent the members of congress from doing what they like to do.

I remember President Obama's pledge to "slash earmarks to no greater than 1994 levels" of 1,183 appropriations. Then after signing a huge pork laden bill in the February Omnibus Bill, he promised again. The Omnibus bill that will go to the President tomorrow contains 5,224 earmarks bringing the total to 8,939 for the year and pushed the baseline spending for earmarks $1.7 trillion higher than three years ago. Obama said recently that "if my administration evaluates an earmark and determines that it has no legitimate public purpose, then we will seek to eliminate it". Don't hold your breathe on this bill pending signature.

Hold on...I am not finished yet. There is plenty of blame to go around. I was watching Fox News this afternoon and they were talking about the pork in the Omnibus Bill. They had as their guest, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). I was hoping to hear something positive from this conservative. However, the interview really turned to be an embarrassment for the Senator and quite frankly for me as a viewer. It turns out that this 28 year member of the Senate ranks number 10 in Congress in earmark spending. He has over $200 million dollars in pork spending with this bill. $18.8 million going to the City of Cedar Rapids alone. When asked by the host Greg Jarrett if he had requested this, the Senator tried to back off the question by saying he did not remember. He did say that he had helped to sponsor an amendment last year that would not allow earmarks to be attached to other bills. Well obviously it was not anything he was committed to. In fact he has been quoted as saying that if he doesn't use the money someone else will.

Well there you go. The typical attitude of nearly all elected officials on capital hill. Said it before and I say it again. It is time to take these people out at the Ballot Box.