On the way home from work, I listened to Mark Levin speaking about earmarks. Republicans have now agreed to ban the practice.
Mark says that this is great, but that we need to be focused on the larger and more important issues out there – like Social Security, and Obamacare. We need to focus on substantive issues and not just be symbolic and follow the Republican Party line.
He noted several times that at the end of the day earmarks will have little or no effect on the budget or on the debt crisis. That may be true. McConnell had made much the same argument before he gave in and agreed to the ban. But it still matters. Why? It is a trust thing.
Bottom line: Can we trust Republicans this time around? They have failed us so many times before. Can we count on them to do this one little thing right? Can we count on them to keep this one (no-brainer) little promise?
It matters because of the principle of the thing. Earmarks are, in a word, immoral. They are trading our tax dollars for votes and that is a core violation of the trust put in public servants and our representatives.
If we cannot trust Republicans to act on principle in a small matter (budget-wise), how can we ever trust them on the big things?
Luke 16:10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”
We need the Republicans to show us that principle matters and that they are faithful in this little thing. If they allow the immoral practice of earmarking to continue, we stand no chance on the bigger things. When they finally ban the practice, tea-partiers and conservatives (the masters who sent them there) can look to Republicans in Congress and say ‘Well done, good and faithful servants! You have been faithful with a few things; We will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
That’s why earmarks matter.
November 17, 2010 at 4:44 am
Dead on Patrick
November 17, 2010 at 10:18 am
Next they need to ban Riders on bills. That's where all the shenanigans take place.
November 17, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Yes! If we can't trust them with the little things, we certainly can't trust them with the big. A dollar here and there certainly adds up when it's not one's own money. Thanks for this great post!
November 17, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Patrick, actually this move against earmarks is just another example of how you can't trust the Republicans – they use this issue to make the rubes think they are doing something "conservative", when in reality, they continue the status quo.
An earmark is nothing more than Congress stating what exactly the money they appropriate will be used for. Instead of banning earmarks, we should require them – then Congress will be doing their job. Instead, they appropriate billions of dollars to, say, the Department of Education, and they let the Executive branch decide how to spend the billions. Better that they state exactly how every dollar is to be spent – that is what they are supposed to be doing.
Earmarks are a good thing – every dollar should be accounted for in earmarks. Then we, the public, can see exactly what Congress is voting to fund, instead of it being hidden in Executive Department budgets.
An earmark does not add dollars to an appropriation bill – it merely states what certain amounts are to be spent on from an amount that has already been appropriated. This is a good thing. Everything should be earmarked.
Don't fall for the anti-earmark hype – they're trying to trick you again. Remember, we have one party with two different names – they try to keep you thinking there is a difference – there isn't.
November 20, 2010 at 12:27 am
Exactly as Geronimo said above. Now without earmarks a bunch of unelected bureaucrats will be deciding how your tax dollars are spent rather than people you can vote out of office. This is a farce. Several bureaucrats in government agencies are rejoicing now.
November 22, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Patrick,
I have to agree that the earmarks issue is just more smoke and mirrors from the Republicans. For starters, I agree with Geronimo to an extent. Congress has the power of the purse and should embrace the responsibility that comes with that instead of ceding so much of the responsibility to the executive. We have checks and balances in our government for a reason.
Beyond that, earmarks are not a bad thing. The abuse of earmarks are a bad thing. Earmarks are not just done in return for political or financial favors. Earmarks are also used to fund important and valid things as well.
The focus on earmarks makes the Republicans look like they care about financial issues. But eliminating earmarks does not solve the real problem, politicians engaging in favor-trading. Meanwhile, our representatives lose a valuable tool for getting things funded.