“When you see any of us [Republicans] talking about merging troop funding with an omnibus, you know we’re losing,” DeMint said. “And you know that [Democrats are] going to use that human shield -- those troops -- as hostage to get through something that should not pass this Congress.”
DeMint’s idea should appeal to conservatives for several reasons. First of all, it locks in spending at levels lower than any of the proposed 2008 appropriations proposals. Secondly, it short-circuits efforts to create expensive new programs. And finally, it would constrain earmarks, which are always plentiful in “must-pass” legislation such as an omnibus spending bill.
On his Senate blog, DeMint makes the case that now is not the time for earmark foes to retreat. Last year’s continuing resolution help pare the number of earmarks from 9,963 in fiscal 2006 to 2,658. Congress is already on pace to rack up 12,000 earmarks in fiscal 2008 -- even though members from both parties promised to trim last year’s number in half. A massive omnibus, DeMint warns, would threaten the all-time record for earmarks of 13,997 in 2005.
“This proves what we knew all along: politicians in Washington aren’t serious about reforming the earmarking process,” DeMint said. “It’s the same old favor factory -- still open for business -- just under different management.”
Republicans have witnessed firsthand the corrupting influence of earmarks and voters’ anger over fiscal restraint. It cost them Congress in 2006. The question before the GOP today is whether Republicans will fire up the favor factory once again or fight for the weary American taxpayers who are fed with wastrel pork-barreling from Washington.