Influential GOP Senators to Defy Earmarks Ban

[WestVirginiaRebel]

National Journal:

The tea party movement, which helped Republicans swamp Democrats on Election Day, will likely get its first big payback today when Senate Republicans are expected to vote to impose a voluntary moratorium on congressional earmarks, a symbolic step toward the kind of fiscal austerity the movement wants to see imposed on the federal government.

But that small victory may turn out to be a fleeting one. Even before the moratorium is adopted, some influential GOP senators are dismissing the ban as political gamesmanship and say they are prepared to defy the moratorium and continue to pursue earmarks.

“I don’t think so,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said when asked if she would comply with the resolution. Murkowski said the ban is merely “about messaging” and would give a misleading impression of taking on the deficit. “I don’t think it is being straight up with the public,” she said.

Appropriations ranking member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., would not commit to complying with a ban resolution, saying he would see “what other options” are available. And Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., said he was unlikely to honor the ban. He introduced legislation Monday to change the earmarking process, including barring congressional aides from participating in fundraising activities; creating a new database of all earmarks; giving the Government Accountability Office the power to randomly audit earmarks; and requiring lawmakers to certify that a recipient of an earmark is qualified to handle the project being funded.

Of the three, Murkowski is the one who is increasingly challenging party leaders. She defied them after losing her primary to Joe Miller, waging a write-in campaign that appears to have earned her another term. During the campaign, she was unapologetic about her ability to bring home spending for her state.

The ban — which is expected to be offered today by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., at a caucus meeting — would bar earmarks for two years.
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They want to save their pork, of course. Inhofe's proposal actually makes sense. As for Murkowski, I'm sure Alaskans will be happy with her.

[Geee]

I was hoping that Murkowski would be forced to be a little different when she returned to Washington after her close call. Guess I was wrong

[Argyle58]

After hearing Inhoffe speak on the subject, the less I like the idea of a moratorium on earmarks. The Constitution gives sole control of the national purse strings to Congress and this move might be perceived as a deferment of that responsibility, allowing Zero to step in and spend through regulation and Executive Order. No doubt that the earmark process needs to be reformed, but to give it up altogether is a dangerous concept.

[Pepper]

Earmarks represent less than 2% of the budget.

 

At the least, congress critters ought able to bring back their salary every day to us mere voters.

 

- just saying