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I wrote over at Michelle Malkin's, where she's been kind enough to let me guest-blog, about the next front in the war on pork:
Wouldn't it be cool if someone took the time to enter each earmark into an electronic database, which would then be made available to the taxpaying and blogging public to comb through if they were so inclined? You know, given that it's their money being spent and all.
And, wouldn't it be double-cool if the taxpaying and blogging public were so inclined, and began identifying which pork project belongs to whom and ever-so-politely inquiring of their duly elected representatives just what the heck they were thinking funding the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service?
Here's how you can play:
Check out the earmarks for your state and then call your congressman and ask if he or she sponsored any of your state's earmarks. If the answer is yes, ask why the congressman's name isn't on the earmark. If you recognize the institution designated to receive the earmarked tax dollars, call them and ask them what they intend to do with your money.
Then email us at info@examiner.com with the subject line "Earmarks" and tell us what you found out. The Examiner will be asking more questions about who got the earmarks and why, so your information could be very important. You will be part of an army of citizen journalists determined to shine some much-needed light on spending decisions made behind closed doors by powerful Members of Congress.
Others blogging this latest development:
Fast Company is intent on exposing the bad guys.
Jeff Jarvis calls it networked journalism.
Jay Rosen opines on the birth of a new networked journalism project.
Andy at Club for Growth is, of course, loving this.
Capt. Ed claims the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service as his own.
Dan Riehl thinks it's a great idea.
Instapundit: Dig in!
Mark Tapscott reminds us of the sad fact that there are 13 of these bills a year. So much work to be done.
Rob Bluey saysit's all about you.
Tim Chapman's on board.
The NTU blog very nearly uses expletives, they're so excited.
The Heritage Foundation identifies a new species-- pork fungus. Ewww.
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