Pork-Monitoring for Republicans Only?
March 29, 2007, 7:06 pm |
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By Andrew L. Jaffee
I would hope that fiscal responsibility be a common goal for both Republicans and Democrats. I’m sure most Americans want a balanced budget and sensible spending, not pork. So should only Republican spending be monitored? During the last 12 years while Republicans held Congress, pork-barrel spending was monitored. But “a month after Democrats took control of the Congress,” and promised to control uncontrolled spending, tracking of pork has been stopped. From the Washington Times:
The federal agency that tracked pork-barrel spending during the 12 years of the Republican congressional majority has discontinued the practice since Democrats took power, riling lawmakers suspicious of the timing and concerned about the pace of fat being added to bills. … [continued below]
“To me, something doesn’t smell right,” said Sen. Jim DeMint, South Carolina Republican. “I just hope no one is pressuring” the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
While not blaming the Democratic leadership, Mr. DeMint added: “I guess if you’re looking for a motive, you’d have to look in that direction.”
CRS, a nonpartisan agency of the Library of Congress created to conduct research for members of Congress on legislative issues, changed its policy in February — a month after Democrats took control of the Congress and vowed to curb the number of special-interest projects inserted into spending bills or even reports that don’t require a vote. …
Several lawmakers, particularly those who had come to rely on the agency to identify the dollar value of earmarks in appropriations and other laws, were caught off guard by the change.
“It’s troubling — I can’t think of any justification for that,” said Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican. “They’ve done good research in the past. … That’s what they’re here for — the benefit of the members” of Congress. …
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Categories, Tags: Economy, Elections, Philosophy / Ideology, Pure Politics
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