Government
Tea Party Hypocrisy on Earmarks?
- Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:17am by
Scott Baker
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While for this year Tea Party Caucus members have a “complete ban” on earmarks according to Representative Michele Bachmann (MN-6), exactly how much in earmarks did members request for FY2010?
Via Hotline On Call:
According to a Hotline review of records compiled by Citizens Against Government Waste, the 52 members of the caucus, which pledges to cut spending and reduce the size of government, requested a total of 764 earmarks valued at $1,049,783,150 during Fiscal Year 2010, the last year for which records are available.
Also via Hotline On Call: A list of Tea Party Caucus members and their earmark requests in Fiscal Year 2010, courtesy of Citizens Against Government Waste’s Pig Book:
NAME EARMARKS AMOUNT Aderholt (R-AL) 69 $78,263,000 Akin (R-MO) 9 $14,709,000 Alexander (R-LA) 41 $65,395,000 Bachmann (R-MN) 0 0 Barton (R-TX) 14 $12,269,400 Bartlett (R-MD) 19 $43,060,650 Bilirakis (R-FL) 14 $13,600,000 R. Bishop (R-UT) 47 $93,980,000 Burgess (R-TX) 15 $15,804,400 Broun (R-GA) 0 0 Burton (R-IN) 0 0 Carter (R-TX) 26 $42,232,000 Coble (R-NC) 19 $18,755,000 Coffman (R-CO) 0 0 Crenshaw (R-FL) 37 $54,424,000 Culberson (R-TX) 22 $33,792,000 Fleming (R-LA) 10 $31,489,000 Franks (R-AZ) 8 $14,300,000 Gingrey (R-GA) 19 $16,100,000 Gohmert (R-TX) 15 $7,099,000 S. Graves (R-MO) 11 $8,331,000 R. Hall (R-TX) 16 $12,232,000 Harper (R-MS) 25 $80,402,000 Herger (R-CA) 5 $5,946,000 Hoekstra (R-MI) 9 $6,392,000 Jenkins (R-KS) 12 $24,628,000 S. King (R-IA) 13 $6,650,000 Lamborn (R-CO) 6 $16,020,000 Luetkemeyer (R-MO) 0 0 Lummis (R-WY) 0 0 Marchant (R-TX) 0 0 McClintock (R-CA) 0 0 Gary Miller (R-CA) 15 $19,627,500 Jerry Moran (R-KS) 22 $19,400,000 Myrick (R-NC) 0 0 Neugebauer (R-TX) 0 0 Pence (R-IN) 0 0 Poe (R-TX) 12 $7,913,000 T. Price (R-GA) 0 0 Rehberg (R-MT) 88 $100,514,200 Roe (R-TN) 0 0 Royce (R-CA) 7 $6,545,000 Scalise (R-LA) 20 $17,388,000 P. Sessions (R-TX) 0 0 Shadegg (R-AZ) 0 0 Adrian Smith (R-NE) 1 $350,000 L. Smith (R-TX) 18 $14,078,000 Stearns (R-FL) 17 $15,472,000 Tiahrt (R-KS) 39 $63,400,000 Wamp (R-TN) 14 $34,544,000 Westmoreland (R-GA) 0 0 Wilson (R-SC) 15 $23,334,000 TOTAL 764 $1,049,783,150
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Comments (169)
curly1973
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:41amGood job……………. to 16 of them
Report Post »Sounding Off
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:40amEveryone keep this list so we don’t forget over the next 2 years. If they don’t change, fire them.
Report Post »justice
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:40amLets see what they do come Jan.8th then go after them.
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:36amI can’t believe you people drank that cool aide.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:10amSeriously, why do you think this is “news”? The media will do or say anything to discredit the Tea Party. If the report said not a single Tea Party rep requested any earmarks do you think anyone would be talking about it? We can’t let these things discourage us, that’s what they want! Just keep your eyes on the ball folks!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:06amThis is from last year’s budget RY. And you didn’t notice it and felt a need to belittle. I can’t believe you drank that kool aid bro. ;)
Report Post »dlmcilvain
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:35amwell, this is for 2010. Let’s see what the new batch does. If they end up the same I would have to say it is time to take over the government by force.
Report Post »noleftturn
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:34amDon’t get too comfortable in Washington, you won’t be there very long. WE ARE WATCHING!
Report Post »joeliberty
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:34amThe “Tea Party” has no one to blame but themselves for defiling themselves with the Republican Party. If anyone on here had any principles at all, they would denounce the Republican Party as a bunch of losers! They are, in many ways worse than the Democrats. What, you say? Let me explain: the Democrats are openly socialist and subversive! The Republicans shout freedom while behind the scenes they support massive deficits and spending, socialism, fascism, and conspire to undermine your civil rights since they created the DHS, TSA, and their beloved “Patriot Act.” They are just as much big government goons as their Democratic counterparts. We need to overthrow both these parties (parasites), assert states rights via the 10th Amendment and elect third parties such as Constitution Party, Libertarian Party, etc. We need massive civil disobedience to these tyrants!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:45am*thumbs up*
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:58amI think we all need to take a deep breath and calm down! Remember these people have been in office since before there was a real Tea Party. I say let them know we‘re watching them but don’t give up on them yet. Now if this doesn’t change immediately then we vote them out. But you can’t set a new standard and then hold them to it retroactively.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:25amhey Joe, ok, I can agree partly with you, but you know who wrote the Patrot Act? Joe Biden, and Bush did sign into law, but if he’d of vetoed it, he would have been overridden, not that it makes it right, also we had just been attacked and he did not want to look like he was doing nothing, still doesn’t make it right! But don’t hold ALL repubs to this light, it is the rino’s, and yes there are plenty of them, and we’ll get rid of them too!!! And as for third party, I agree we need to so something, but do you have any idea how expensive that is? MASSIVE undertaking, but I would support it. We just have to KICK THE PROGRESSIVES OUT, whether they be, Dem, Rep or Ind…and if they don’t change their ways, we burn ‘em!
Report Post »jmparrish
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 5:01amBush was a Progressive in disguise. . . he expanded the government and its power more then Clinton even and with his policies began the process of bankrupting our great country. . . we borrowed trillions of dollars, mostly from what should be considered ‘enemy’ states so we now pay interest on our wars. . .
If we simply phased out gasoline and phased in natural gas to run our cars on (lets say via presidential executive order). . . we wouldnt need the middle east and we could keep the hundreds of billions of dollars we send away to the Muslims.
Also China is behaving like an enemy. . . we should treat them as such. . . raise tarriffs on China so that it would be cheaper to produce goods in America and we could welcome back most of the 43,000 buisnesses and 9,000,000+ jobs that went overseas since 2000.
btw: Donald Trump is the only person (potential candidate) who has publically called for raising tarriffs on China and saving America.
Report Post »jimmythebullet
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:34amat least there are a few 0′s in the tally.there will be at least one more when the new congress is seated-rep. Col. Allen West,south fla. district 22.i guess there‘s hope until there’s no hope.
Report Post »Johnnyp1958
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:32amI understand these earmarks are for purchsing bullit’s and guns for the upcoming Revolution to over through Communism in the UNITED STATES so these would be considered good earmarks.
Report Post »nydivide
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:30amExtremely disappointing. Luckily Michele Bachmann and Mike Pence maintained their integrity, as both are the future of the party.
Report Post »crowbar
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:30amWhat sort of BS story is this. The tea party elected members aren’t even in office yet.
Report Post »ANTIFA
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 3:01pmTrue, but Michelle Bachmann created a “Tea Party caucus” in the house, to unite Republicans who claimed to support the Tea Party movement. Funny how it looks like most of them just wanted your votes, and then continued to do what they were going to do anyway.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:30amGee – How really disappointing!!! http://maboulette.wordpress.com
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:45amWhat’s even more disappointing, I suspect from your view, is that this is a list from *last year*. ;)
That and there are no official “tea party” organizations, despite some trying to invent themselves as such.
Eventually we’ll get the wash cleaned as it should be. Will just take some more work. Tally ho!
Report Post »Reagan/DeMint.deciple
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:52amSit around waiting for stories like this to come up, huh ? You didn’t post a single thing this morning except on this story.. doesn’t it feel funny to be a stalker of the blaze. Sitting around in your boxers in you moms basement ALL day refreshing the page,mouse in one hand and joystick in the other, looking back at your comments reading the stories and picking on the one that YOU can gloat on ? You’re a piece of work I must say.. But hey, right ? Someone has to do it…
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:15amWalkwithme??? what is that BS site anyway? Take a hike! Looking at that site, it is full of potato head mush, most admired? by ABC? Come on, Politico, all yellow journalism there, wake up!
Report Post »Chett
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:29amRemember the names, 2012 isnt that far away
Report Post »jgeezy
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:28amUnreal. I am done supporting politicians who pull this crap.
http://grumpypolitics.wordpress.com/
Report Post »akgriffin
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:28amThats why we need to stay on thier ass’s and make them walk the line.
Report Post »Surfndestiny
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:27amlooks like tea party members, need to not be lulled into a slumber, but to be doubleing their efforts……….
Trash, that is still cluttering up the place, still needs disposal………………………………..
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:26amOf course the shape shifter is agreeing with no more earmarks. He’s moving to the right. No thanks, we don’t want him either!
Report Post »wifezilla
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:26amWe see the hypocrites being outed with this move. Glad to know Michelle Bachmann isn’t one of them.
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:25amWe’re going to have to develop a 12 step program for these spendaholics. The most effective first step might be on their neck while we shout “Stop Spending!!!”.
Report Post »Time for a Tea Party reprimand.
thestimulusmonkey
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:36pmConservatives are going to be disillusioned again just like they were after Bush. They are going to discover that the “shrink government” rhetoric was all just empty promises. Its funny that you believe that this time is going to be any different. Its the Ronald Reagan “two Santa Clauses” strategy – Republicans will be Santa Clauses by giving you tax cuts and also not cutting any of your medicare, social security, or essential services that we all want and need.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:24amGotta Love Michele Bachmann
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:02am@DIMMUBORGIR
Report Post »Yeah but……. She needs to crack the whip on her fellow caucus members.
randy
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:24amWell, we know at least 16 of them will keep their jobs
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:23amwell i can‘t say i didn’t see this coming.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:22am“Bachmann (R-MN) 0 0″
That’s the only one I recognize as actually being a real, full time supporter of the tea party movement.
And for the record, official organizations don’t actually represent or make up the tea party. The left would have it otherwise, but hey, I can’t recall ever getting a call or order to “show up!” somewhere, nor did I get any assistance it was pay my own way, 100%.
Report Post »jimmythebullet
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:45amhere here ghost-
Report Post »she’s been solid as a rock.that‘s why she was nazi lugosi’s #1 target before the elections.i guess that didn‘t work out to well for ya’,huh beyotch.
Wiz001
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:52amYou are right she is the only name i recognize as well and the (as they call them) tea party candidates have not taken office yet.. This is more liberal smoke and mirror.. Like ridalin cause kids to become conseratives B/S it just makes them slow and controable by the liberals..Funny how my conseative friends use perantal guidance to control their children and the liberal give them a pill and put them in front of the T. V. for control. We can’t break ranks now, we need to stick together no matter what smoke the blow up our backside.. I have never met a tea party president or such just common folk that are tired of the govt.(repub or demo) Blatenly STEALING OUR FUTURE> It is not new but has finally come to a head and we need to squeeze and keep squeezing til it pops!!!
Report Post »God Bless Our Troops
xm-1774u
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:20amthis is crazy ! were not going to last much longer
Report Post »GEW
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:26amThe smell of money in the air. Now they will have to prove themselves. Its gonna be really hard. Cause it looks like The Price is Right. I pray not so.
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:33amFire off e-mails and calls of disgust with each and every Politician on this list that attached earmarks…
Report Post »Reagan/DeMint.deciple
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:35am@XM-1774U, Lets not get crazy.. It seems that you don’t understand the story… Look at the year , 2010.. They are just showing what happened last year and WHO request earmark money.. Jan. starts the new congress and from that point on then we‘ll be able to see the culprits who don’t follow what they were put there to do… Take it easy, we’re just getting started…
Report Post »KrazyCajun
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:38amYou have to be carefull about this list. It’s important to know that the list was compiled before the Nov 2010 election cycle. We have to be vigilant and hold our Representatives and Senators accountable starting with the new Congress.
Report Post »psst
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:40am@Dimmu.
Report Post »I want a DeMint/Bachmann ticket
As for loving her?
Damn, she IS gorgeous.
mtnclimberjim
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:42amThis is so typical. Look whats going on with the mexican invasion, everyone is “oh well” Good bye America. It will be nice to see TX back out of the union, then they’ll show the government how to stop the invasion.
Report Post »Reagan/DeMint.deciple
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:45amI’m sorry, I guess I‘m the one that doesn’t understand the story.. Thought some of the congressman where already there and were just “backed” by the tea party for reelection… I thought the story has to do with what they did over last year and what they intend to do in the coming years.. Am I wrong ? because if I am then my apologies to XM-1774U…
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:59amI think we need to remember how the (earmark)process works. Prior to the Tea Party these earmarks were requested and set aside. The bill drafters insert earmarks to get support from people who would ordinarily not support a bill. I do not know how long an earmark lasts, but these folks need to rescind these existing earmarks immediately. I know it sounds like I am making excuses, but the writers of a bill can get anyone they want in hot water right now just by inserting their earmark. A great reason to get them all out! Standard appropriations should be all they need.
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:00amIt doesn’t matter when they asked for these earmarks…Earmarks are the problem with D.C…..They have NO concept of how hard Americans have to work to pay those taxes…They all still need an earfull to make sure they work to stop this insidious behavior…
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:00amBefore everybody jumps into the fray, there are a few points you should consider.
Often, when there are capital expenses planned for a State or a municipality (like the dredging of a harbor for our city, the removal of a bridge had been stuck in an upright position and was now deteriorating and going to fall into the river in a nearby town, or the completion of a major state highway for our State) hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding will be required. In order to get the funding, the State or municipality has to file a small mountain of studies, plans, permissions, licenses and other assorted paperwork. Once that is done, and it often takes years to amass all the required “stuff”, applications are made to the Federal Government.
This is where the Congressional representatives come into play. Their job is to convince the appropriate Committee that the project (the bridge, the highway expansion, the sewer plant, the what have you) is worthy of funding. That takes time. If they are convincing enough, the Ways and Means Committee approves the project and Congress votes on it. Once that happens, the money is “earmarked” for that project.
Earmarks are not necessarily a bad thing. People often confuse them with “pork barrelling” which is where Congressional members bring home unnecessary projects (like the Alaska highway to nowhere, which I am sure we all remember), but many of these earmarks are necessary projects for the health and safety of us all.
I got to see this first hand in 2004, This was the start of Bush’s second term, he was faced with a Democractic majority in Congress. Nothing wrong with that. It happens all the time. However, the city I was working in (largest in the State and strongly Democratic) had a bridge that was stuck in the open position and needed to be either repaired or taken down. The paperwork for the project had taken so long (more than five years) that it could no longer be repaired and needed to be removed. Just prior to the November election that brought in the new Congress, the city had received word that their bridge removal project had been approved. There was great rejoicing. Finally, the bridge would be down and plans to replace it could begin. By the way, the fact that the bridge was out of service for so long had a major economic impact on businesses on both sides of the river, many of which were forced to close. However, I digress. When the new Congressional leaders were sworn in, the first thing they did was announce that ALL earmarked projects were null and void. (Can I give a big shout out here to Charlie Rangel, who I believe was chairing the Committee at that time??)
Yep, everything was gone – the city would be getting zip- zilch, nada, goose egg. Fortunately for that particular city, the Governor was just as frustrated as the city leaders were. By some minor miracle, last year, Federal funds were found and the project was put back on track. Probably because chunks of metal and steel had started to fall off the superstructure into the river, onto the bank, and a few onto the roadway. I guess that got somebody’s attention, somewhere. Anyway, this past summer, the bridge came down – FINALLY. Hey, it only took some 15 years or so.
So, personally, I’m not ready to start sharpening the knives against these Congressional members who have filed for earmarks. It’s not the amount of money that they have filed for, it’s which projects are they supporting, how much is the EPA (always a major player in these deals) extorting from the overall project budget, and is this project frou-frou or a serious need. Those are the questions I would ask. Harbor dredgings, sewer plants, bridge repair, and other infrastructure issues are high on the list. Building a Presidential library, maybe not so much.
Just my thoughts.
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:15amI’m not too worried about this story and the spending. Most earmark requests that made it into the omnibus bill were made early last year – back when it was “business as usual” on the Hill. We now have a nice little list that we can be checking on over the course of the new congress. America is now awake, and if any one of these politicians doubts the will of the people, they can look for a new job when reelection comes around.
Report Post »Deuteronomy22
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:41ammtnclimberjim
Report Post »Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:42am
“This is so typical. Look whats going on with the mexican invasion, everyone is “oh well” Good bye America. It will be nice to see TX back out of the union, then they’ll show the government how to stop the invasion.”
There are Texas cities along the border that conduct their city council meeting in Spanish. Texas became a majority-minority state in 2004 and soon will be a Spanish-majority state. Welcome to Texas, se habla espanol.
Cobra Blue
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:54amLike I have always said…it takes men of strong courage and conviction to set the course of history in this country i.e. the Founding Fathers, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln…I could go on. Point being there are no such people in Washington today. They are all typical politicians. Politicians are not the answer to our problems. They are the problem. WE THE PEOPLE are the answer. One day maybe we will be willing to take a stand, get out of our comfort zone, sacrifice our time, our money, job, home…whatever…by laying it all on the line…SO HELP ME GOD. (Read the historical account of what the Founders sacrificed.) Until then…we will get more and more lip service from the politicians, because they have no fear of the people. They know we are all are talk and no show. It is no longer business as usual in Washington. Conventional methods only work when both sides play by the rules.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:58amgo to page 2 of this thread, I’ve posted some important news and a way to sign a vital petition!
Do it please!!!!
Report Post »cykonas
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:21am@TUQUOSHI
My simple answer to your response is if we demand that they cut the size of the Federal Government, and the taxes that they collect and steal from States, businesses and individuals then your State representative won’t after to beg the Feds to give it back. Your State, or locality, will have the money they need to take care of their State and Local problems.
That’s why, I believe, voters need to stay focused on Small Goverment and Low Taxes; period. If we don’t I fear the Feds will just use it to forestall that which must be done. Getting these folks off the public teat is going to be harder than getting a junkie off heroin. The drug is money, and the more they have the more they want. Cold turkey hurts like hell, but it works.
Report Post »lylee
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:22amCongressmen talk about bringing money back to their district. My question is, why did this money be the district to begin with? It’s a concept called revenue-sharing which is at the root of all our federal overspending problems. It is a way of buying votes to get reelected. Nobody wants to talk about revenue-sharing because everyone use it for their own benefit. Everyone wants to use somebody else’s money for their pet projects. So you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours, which leads to corruption and overspending. The whole concept of revenue-sharing needs to be done away with.
Report Post »NickyLouse
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:23am@MTNCLIMBERJIM: Will Texas defend their northern, eastern and western borders as well?
Report Post »peter469
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:45am2010 was 2010. The ban is for 2011+, so what’s the story?
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:09pmTaquoshi, while you laid out a good scenario of the typical red-tape needed for significant projects to go forward, I believe there is a base problem that is more apt to cure it.
Why doesn’t the state have the money in their coffers to do their own projects? We‘ve become accustomed to reaching out our hand to the Federal Gov’t and they, in turn, require mounds of self-serving red-tape in order to justify their existence. The whole system is bass-ackwards.
The more we turn to the government for handouts — be it on the individual level or the state level — the more we are feeding the monster that is eating us alive.
In the scenario you gave, the state wouldn’t need endless studies to prove that this project was necessary, thereby saving millions off the top. The bridge would have been repaired or dismantled for a boatload less money by keeping the decision making local.
The federal government sucks the life blood out of states by creating endless requirements and fees and then making a decision based on political clout. It needs to end.
Report Post »hickoryrat
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 1:18pmThe Republic of Texas again!
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 6:40pmTo cykonas,
I would absolutely LOVE for our State to have the ability to manage their own projects but there are Federal laws deal with waterways, which involves sewer plants, bridges and harbors. This, as I understand it, requires the participation of the Feds and the Army Corp of Engineers, like it or not. I have been told that the interstate highway system that we have was constructed in order to move army vehicles and other types of equipment following WWII. Think WPA projects. Many of the projects that came out of the WPA works projects involved infrastructure and sadly, that was when the Federal government started ballooning in to the behemoth it is today.
Unfortunately, the State Government is rarely better than the Feds. We have an old police station that was constructed in the 60′s, when a popular pastime of the SDS was blowing up buildings. At that time, asbestos was considered the best thing since sliced bread. The building is LOADED with it. Pipes are coated with it, it was mixed into the cement, ceiling tiles were made out it, it’s in the flooring. And the building was actually bombed. Anyway, now it’s time for the building to come down. Someone in our State Capital DEP decided that because the caulking for the windows has asbestos in it, the windows have to be removed by cutting a THREE INCH border out of the concrete bricks and regular brick facade because some asbestos might (operative word – might) leak out. There is absolutely no scientific evidence that this might happen. The building has been there for over 40 years. You have absolutely no idea how much this requirement has increased the cost of demolition.
Yet, we have an interstate bridge over a river where all the rainwater drains on that bridge vent directly into the river. Gas, oil, sand, whatever drips from cars, residue from accidents, you name it. Down the drain and into the river. Go figure.
The further away from the immediate project, the more bureaucracy.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:00pmTo GrannyATL:
Sadly, as I explained to someone else earlier in the thread, during the 1930s and 1940s, the Federal Government started the WPA works projects, which in many cases, dealt with infrastructure. That means the Feds own them.
Personally, I think that there are buearcrats in various offices that spend their days thinking, “Let’s see, how can I make this project more difficult in order to make myself more important.” I had a fine example of this when our City was trying to get the harbor dredged. We got Phase 1 done, but when the paperwork for Phase 2 was being filed, the head of the department at the State DEP actually said to another State’s DEP staffer, “Well, I’m not sure this project should go forward. I don’t want them to mess with their harbor any more than they have.” He lives at least 50 inland miles from our town, has been here exactly once and barely even speaks to our Harbor Master or other City officials. We have one of the cleanest harbors in the State and have been working hard to get the dredging done. However, this dingdong has capriciously changed testing requirements no less than three times in one month. When challenged by a chemical engineer and a marine biologist about the changes in standards, he told them, “Because I said so.” He was so bad during Phase 1 that the ACOE engineers refused to speak with him after one big blow up.
Personally, I would like to see the Federal Government’s tentacles removed from our daily lives. I also think that the State’s amount of power should be greatly reduced. I’m always amazed at the people who think there is such a thing as a “free lunch”. However, breaking up the system is something that has to be done carefully or the bureacrats will turn us into a police state in a heart beat. AZ is leading the way, and I understand OK isn’t far behind.
In the mean time, as we work on dismantling the behemoth, it’s important not to crush those working to move their towns and cities forward. When the ARRA money dries up and the CDBG grant funding withers away, towns and cities are going to have the face the music. However, the Department of Education, the IRS and Homeland Security are just waiting in the wings to gobble up all they can.
Report Post »orkydorky
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 4:17amMr. Baker, why are we trying to discredit the tea party before it is even seated in the house? Your article is very misleading, trying to discredit Bachmann and the tea party caucus when most will not be in office until 2011 and the others that are mentioned are those who loaded up the bills early last year, long before making the pledge of no earmarks, however, we will be watching after the 2011 session begins and only at that time will you have a legitimate right to print your hit piece! Let’s be a little more honest than MSNBC shall we.
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:20am2011 will be very different.
Report Post »ANTIFA
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 3:07pmOf course eternal MT-Rep. Denny Rehberg is on there. Apparently when he’s not busy suing the state fire department for saving a residential district instead of some of the land on his ranch, he’s demanding more money from Washington. Lovely.
Report Post »JCoolman
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 4:06pmTea party candidates aren’t even in congress yet. Gotta get the language right. Its just another way to try and smear the tea party before any of the candidates get into office.
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 4:19pmEarmark-Was first used in agriculture, marking ears of animals to distinguish one ranchers from another.
In politics it is the same but has been twisted and used very incorrectly.
Basically a true earmark is only marking already approved monies for an specific project. That is what Congress is suppose to do. Unfortunately political crooks have found out no one understood nor oversaw earmarks. They twisted it into adding monies and a way to secretly funnel money to their state.
Doing away with earmarks, as done in ‘95 by the returning Republicans, will do nothing and really takes power to appropriate money from Congress and gives it to the POTUS.
Instead of repealing earmarks, elect and teach your Congressmen to use good judgement for appropriations and also remind them we are watching.
Report Post »AmericanSoldier
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 4:58pmPeople call appropriations earmarks. Did they actually ADD to the budget of the bill or did they earmark to appropriate the funds for specific things?
The earmark everyone is upset about are those that add to the cost of the bill. Say the bill is alloted $1,000,000 and Politician A wants an earmark of 100,000 ADDED to the price of the bill making it 1,100,000. That’s bad. Earmarks that just divvy up the total cost of the bill to specify where the money goes, I have no problem with. I’d rather they take the time to do that then give some agency a huge blank check.
Report Post »C.C.D.
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:06pmI don’t care what it is for! The Federal Government has one main responsibility, “Protecting this Country”. Fund the Military, every thing else “SHUT IT DOWN”.
Report Post »AmericanSoldier
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:17pmI agree with you but as long as they are creating these bills at least spend the time to appropriate them. At least it’ll lead a trail to the people that Congressman or Senator is lining the pockets of.
Report Post »Benjamin Linus
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:14pmWhy is there only 50 members of the Tea Party caucus? Is your congressmen a member?
Report Post »dawgPound
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 12:02amno it won’t. but you can dream if it makes you feel better.
Report Post »MR_ANDERSON
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 3:44amI agree that 2011 will be, but what about this…
Adrian Smith (R-NE) 1 $350,000
Really, only 1, and for such a small amount, I wonder why.
Report Post »roguetea
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 4:36amrogue, Trusting Energized Americans
Is different like change? A flat tire is different than a round tire. A broke spoke is different than one that is, not broke. Compared to 2008, we certainly do have a lot of change… haven’t figured out what happened to the hope, unless it got changed, into despair (which ain’t not da spare needing the change). If 2011 is flat and broke, it will not be different than 09 or 10. Difference is not nearly as important as who makes the difference.
I do predict improvement in 2011, but the least of it will involve DC. Oh, I am optimistic about what a few misfits in Congress can and will do. But the tea party ain’t DC. The fix is in, but not in DC, it is, and shall always remain, in the tea, out amongst us. I do respect and appreciate Bachmann and glad her influence swells and energizes. But the ‘Tea Party Caucus’ might just be an oxymoron. At best, it is a faint resemblance of us real folk, the true owners and masters of our government. Yes, politicians, by definitions will be hypocrites… it is the first rule in their ‘art and science of governing.’ Heck, any of us can, and sometimes do, measure down to that standard of lowliness. But for improvement in 2011, look no further than your own mirror. It is the only way to make improvements happen and endure. We may all be flat broke in 2011, but I predict much improvement for the year, out here amongst us, which indeed, will make a very Happy New Year.
Report Post »tea party, Own 11, ROGUE ON
bolec slodkie
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 4:46amEar marks are necessary . Actually it is one of the few jobs House is supposed to do. The Senate on the other hand only has a yes or no vote on the budget the House approves. I would agree to authorize the Senate to block individual line items by a simple majority vote.
Here is an example: if the House decides it is more important to have 200 F22 fighters built in the next year because 100 F22s in the air is worth more than 1000 F35 fighters in development. THAT IS AN EARMARK. Gates has already said if he gets budget authority he will cancel production of the F22. I would not agree to allow Rep Rangle to sell his vote for the “Charley Rangle Institute of Aviation Science” in New York City unless he can convince 217 other representatives and 50 senators that it was in the national interest.
Another not so farfetched example is if the House defunds the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell training. THAT IS A REVERSE EARMARK. What would keep Secretary (note: not executive) Gates from reallocating war funding to purchase Pink Tutus for all combat forces.
Earmarks are not good or bad. I DISAGREE WITH THE PROCESS. EACH EARMARK MUST BE VOTED ON AS A SEPARATE LINE AND NOT TRADED FOR VOTES.
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 2:35pmTHERE WAS NOT ANY TEA PARTY MEMBERS IN CONGRESS IN 2010. are you people idiots? try another lie!
Report Post »racialcoward
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 11:06amIF THIS DOES NOT STOP IMMEDIATlY AND IF OBAMA-CARE IS NOT REPEALED THEN ITS TIME TO START REMOVING STARS FROM THE US FLAG.
Its not worth it to be part of the USA anymore. Is it worth the hard work, taxes, prayers, tollerence, and campaign contributions to keep your State’s Star on that US FLAG anymore. Most States would be better off economically if they were not part of the USA.
2011 could be the year, the Stars begin falling off of the US Flag. I want prayers back in schools.
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