Today, The Hill reported on several lawmakers happy with current prospects on earmarking….mainly because they stand to increase their share of pork at the trough if more members of congress take no earmark pledges
The average GOP member brought home $10.5 million in earmarks last year. With roughly 36 members abstaining this year, GOP earmarkers are slated to better that mark by about $2 million each, and it shows…
Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH) said in the article, “I would hope a hundred of my colleagues would not request earmarks.”
Rep. James Walsh (R-NY) went on to confirm that members stand to receive more money for earmarks by saying, “If there are fewer requests, there should be more money to go around.”
Rep. David Hobson (R-OH) added, “It is not going be to helpful to win back the majority,” Hobson said, arguing that earmarks help members get elected to Congress. Instead, anti-earmark groups like the Club for Growth and the RSC are “eating their own.”
“It is easier to b---h than to govern. It seems the Club for Growth, and the RSC want to complain.”
It is plain as day that we still have many Republicans as well as Democrats who continue to engage in unabashed earmarking.
On a lighter note, Mr. Hobson and Mr. Walsh have both announced retirement plans. Let’s hope their successors recognize the need for change.