Earmark, Earmark, Who Has The Earmark?

University of Congress, Political Science, Legislation 101: The most reliable method to attain enough votes to ensure that a piece of potentially volatile legislation passes is to add earmarks requested by members of Congress.

Democrats and Republicans alike have learned this basic political law of supply and demand for votes.

Why is it that our elected officials think that all of Main Street USA should contribute to the following earmarks, all of which were attached to much larger pieces of financial legislation during the past couple of years:

- $583,000 for the Montana World Trade Center (run by the University of Montana)

- $98,000 to develop a Walking Tour of Boydton, Virginia (2000 population = 454)

- $1.9 Million for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service located at the City College of New York

- $188,000 for the Lobster Institute, located at the University of Maine

- $460,752 for the beer ingredient, hops, mostly given to the Northwest Hops Research Program, allowing experts to investigate "critical issues" in the industry

While these few examples do not look like much, it is worth noting that they are items that every American should not have been forced to contribute to simply by virtue of the fact that some Senators and/or House members wanted to get these funds paid by Main Street USA for their zone of constituents.

Yet when people examine earmarks more closely they will find that there was approximately $16.1 Billion allocated for 2,627 different earmarks that were approved in September 2008 (conveniently, while everyone’s attention was riveted to the economic collapse).

This was done in one fell swoop, in the form of a Continuing Resolution that would fund government operations until March 2009.

That is, unfortunately, just a part of the story.

The $16.1 Billion was more than double the previous year.

Yes, America, earmarks are getting (have gotten) totally out of control.

Each and every one of us must contact our elected representatives by phone, email and letter and demand that such fiscal irresponsibility cease and desist immediately, starting with those pieces of pork that are being tagged to the healthcare reform presently in front of both the Senate and the House.

Over For Now,

Main Street One