Those Pesky GOP Earmarks
While Republicans denounced the 1,924 page Omnibus budget bill that was unveiled by Senate Democrats yesterday, their arguments against earmarks ran into some trouble during a news conference today.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) joined Sen. John Thune (R-SD) in the Senate Radio-TV Gallery in what was billed as a news conference to blast the move by Democrats to bring up this $1.1 trillion Omnibus in the waning days of this session of Congress.
“There is no reason other than political expediency to try to jam this bill through,” said Cornyn, accusing top Democrats of ignoring the message sent by voters in November, that they wanted less spending, not a bill filled with home-state budget earmarks.
But if advisers to the Senators thought the opening statements of Cornyn and Thune would set the theme for this news conference, they were wrong, because the fine print of the Omnibus showed many Republican Senators at the pork barrel trough as well.
My review found 45 earmarks for Cornyn and another 26 for Thune. Those examples didn’t get ignored by reporters.
“The bill contains many earmarks that you requested,” said one reporter, starting the Q&A.
“Pardon me?” said Cornyn.
“I intend to vote against those earmarks because the American people sent a message on November 2nd,” said the Texas Republican.
“Senator Thune, I was just looking at the list of earmark requests that you requested this year and it adds up to over a hundred million dollars,” said another reporter, asking the South Dakota Republican – who has been talked about as a Presidential hopeful – if he would strike those earmarks.
“I support those projects, but I don’t support this bill,” Thune answered.
Time for another question.
“Going through this bill, there is earmark after earmark from the both of you, millions of dollars in earmarks,” asked another scribe with a jab.
“Why do you have any credibility on this?”
“Because we’re going to vote against the bill,” answered Cornyn.
“It appears like you’re saying one thing and doing another,” another reporter pressed.
“Not at all,” said Cornyn, as Thune also stepped in to defend their stance on the Omnibus.
“We’ve got to leave it there – we’ve got to get going,” a GOP aide said, trying to end the press conference and quickly get the Senators out the door.
“Were you wrong when you put these earmarks in?” asked one reporter, ignoring the staffer.
“You’re missing the story if you think it’s just about earmarks,” Cornyn protested, trying to turn the focus back to Democratic leaders bringing this huge bill to the floor with little time for review.
“Thank you guys. Thank you very much,” the same staffer quickly interjected as Cornyn finished his answer, trying again to end the news conference.
“Is that an acknowledgement that it was wrong to put the earmarks in in the first place?” a reporter asked.
“You’ve asked the question about five times and I’ve tried to answer it to the best of my ability,” said a somewhat irked Cornyn, who then zipped out the door.
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18 comments Add your comment
Kyle Binkley
December 15th, 2010
11:58 am
Amazing. The Republicans can’t even get out of the gate without tripping over their shoe strings. They need to get there act together. The public is much more informed than they used to be.
Kyle Binkley
December 15th, 2010
11:58 am
Enter your comments here
Deborah
December 15th, 2010
12:15 pm
do they think we’re stupid? After the election, they pull this? Thank goodness for your diligence, Jamie.
Kristen
December 15th, 2010
12:19 pm
I am tired of the all the Democrat versus Republican retoric. They are all career politicians. The problem here is the people of this country expect all these earmarks from their politicians even though they say they don’t want them. We are living in country that wants free services and can’t stand the thought of stopping the spending. It has to stop. Have you looked at the debt calculator lately? Every man woman and child in this country would have to pay 45K to pay off the debt. We have to stop the outrageous spending. No more Republican versus Democrat, we need to start looking at this from a save our country point of view.
Earmarks? What Earmarks
December 15th, 2010
12:37 pm
[...] was sent in November, about fiscal responsibility. Unless, of course, you actually ask them. h/t Jamie Dupree, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “The bill contains many earmarks that you requested,” said one reporter, starting the [...]
DWTOO
December 15th, 2010
1:48 pm
Well put Kristen. And thanks Jamie – these people must think we’re STUPID!
Jennifer
December 15th, 2010
4:42 pm
I called Senator Burr’s office (he had 63 earmarks listed). His aide said that “that information is not true.” So, I asked him to explain. He said that there are no “earmarks” – that all of the items with Senator Burr’s name beside them are not new spending – they are just continuing current items that “have to be done.” I asked for an example – he said “like a fire department that will get shut down if it’s not funded.” So, I asked why people in Arkansas were paying for my fire department, since that is a state issue.” He didn’t have an answer. We had words. I think I’m off his Christmas list at this point. However, it should be noted that his aide promises that Burr is a “no” vote (but he did vote “yes” on the tax bill). Did I mention that I regret my vote?????? ARGH!!!
Joe
December 15th, 2010
9:11 pm
The GOP’s memory is shorter than my ____. I’m taking names on earmarks and votes and I’ll do everything I can to get them out of office come next election
Tim Camper (therealhappycamper)
December 16th, 2010
3:16 am
“I support those projects, but I don’t support this bill,” Thune answered.
Supporting a project and not supporting the bill is the same as saying “I don’t want the new bridge built across the Missouri river” and then pouring the footing for the piers. Any representative who endorses or suggest earmarks in todays economic climate should immediately be removed from office. If you are wondering how that happens, just watch the news about Greece, Spain & Portugal. Soon to be released in the US. Americans need to stop being so naive and start kicking some a_s. We have tried the civil approach and how is that working for us? The only thing THESE PEOPLE will understand is a crowd of Americans physically throwing them out of office. The concept of having representatives is out dated. Congress does not work. I say “fire congress.” A little long winded. Better check my blood pressure.
Clearing the Browser Tabs – Omnibus Thursday Edition
December 16th, 2010
6:12 am
[...] in the bill; and 2) the reporters at the press conference knew about their pork. Needless to say, it did not go well (via memeorandum).In related news, John Thune says he really didn’t mean to have any pork in [...]
[links] Link salad wonders into Thursday | jlake.com
December 16th, 2010
8:03 am
[...] Those Pesky GOP Earmarks — More intellectual honesty from Your Republican party. Don’t look for any coverage of this on FOX… [...]
Linda thornwell
December 16th, 2010
8:59 am
I just heard spending bills like the Omnibus must, according to the constitution, originate in the house not the senate. This bill is unconstitutional!
Phil_will1
December 16th, 2010
7:47 pm
It gets very tiresome hearing that the amounts involved are small relative to the total size of the federal budget. To me, earmarks are not necessarily a cost savings measure. They are about reforming the corrupt practice of exchanging earmarks and tax preferences for campaign cash. They are about restoring the historical accountability of our elected representatives to the voters, and wrestling that control away from the special interests.
hsr0601
December 16th, 2010
9:40 pm
1. Anti-DISCLOSE Act VS. Pro-Earmark Ban
Admittedly, both are disturbing, but it is apparent that the largest form of wasteful spending can arise from the Shadowy Campaign Money offered by the greedy interest group.
And Earmarks accounted for about $16 billion, less than 1 percent, of federal spending in 2010, small potatoes in contrast to Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans
2. The reps along with Big Business bought this past midterm election.
The structure that the last champion is authorized to pick the next match winner .
The ruling that allowed Corporate money to back Political Candidates destroyed the very fabric of the Elections and Americans are paying dearly for it.
The incessant flood of negative campaign ads drove most Americans towards something they knew nothing about, the Republican/Corporate take-over of the US. Millions upon millions were spent to defeat certain
Sonc
December 17th, 2010
11:17 am
Republicans support earmarks for themselves because they are vital projects for the economy of their states. They reject earmarks for everyone else because they are pork barrel projects designed to win votes in the next election cycle. The republican justification seems to be if they were doing something wrong, God would make sure they didn’t win the next election. I call this theory “Divine Right of Republicans”
Barbara
December 18th, 2010
10:29 pm
I heard that one of the hog barrel (it’s gone past pork) is some kind of monument to Gorbachev to be erected here. I do not know which party or who put that in. I cannot understand why we the taxpayers have to pay for a communist ruler to be honored here. Our men went to war to fight communism is WW2. Many never came home and this government is honoring one of them at our expense?!!! I say all Americans get together and destroy it.
The Week In Review: 12-17-2010 « People of Principle
December 20th, 2010
4:27 pm
[...] read an article by Jamie Dupree regarding GOP earmarks and I was stunned & disturbed. Senators Cornyn (R-TX) and John Thune (R-SD) came out opposing [...]
Lonnie
December 22nd, 2010
6:44 am
Wasn’t this bill written in February?
Why wasn’t it brought up earlier this year?