Shalom Place Discussion Board: Obama -- The Efforts To Set Things Right (preparations)

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Topic: Obama -- The Efforts To Set Things Right (preparations)

HeartPrayer
unregistered

posted

Pork barrel politics -- whose fat?
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We have previously touched on the issue of earmarks, which as I understand it we agree should be eliminated or at least reformed and lessened.

The GOP has loudly complained about "pork barrel politics as usual", pointing out that the recently approved $ 410 billon spending bill contained 8600 earmarks totalling $ 7.7 billion. Although this may be distasteful, I would like to point out that this is labout 1.8 % fat! (And the GOP doesn’t tell us how many of the earmarks they themselves are responsible for.)

Democrats dispute the GOP’s accounting and say the earmarks actually total $ 3.8 billion, wherefrom almost half is from Republican legislators (!). If so, this would make the Democrats responsible for less than 0.5 % fat! (The rest of the fat is due to Republican earmarks.)

Well, perhaps one should practice before preaching so loudly.

Let us just take one state: Alaska....

Governor Sarah Palin made 51 earmark requests for the fiscal year 2008 budget, totalling $256 million. For the FY 2009 budget her 31 requests totalled $197 million.

That’s progress, isn’t it? A hefty reduction? Setting a good example? [Wink]

We leave the math as an excercise for the reader. Given the population of Alaska, the inevitable conclusion is that Governor Palin exceeds her "fair share" with regard to participation in "pork barrel politics".

PS. Does anyone have earmark figures for fiscal years 2000--2008? It would be nice to see the figures for "fiscal conservatism in practice".

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Phil
Administrator
Member # 1

posted

You forgot to mention that during his short, indistinguished senate career, Obama garnered around one billion in porky earmarks. McCain, zero. Obama became a born-again earmark opposer only after he began his run for President. Now that he's top dog, he doesn't need earmarks, as he can shove his pet projects through in stimulus packages, spending bills and budget proposals.

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"The Light shines on in darkness . . ."
- John 1: 3 -

Posts: 7539 | From: Wichita, KS | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged |

HeartPrayer
unregistered

posted

.
Well, thank you for pointing out that with regards to this issue McCain has been the better man. I would like to see both Democrats and Republicans follow his good example. [Smile]

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Phil
Administrator
Member # 1

posted

Now KS Democrat Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who is nominated for Health and Human Resources Cabinet Director in the Obama admin., has had to fess up about tax problems:
- http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D979CMGO0&show_article=1

I think I'm seeing a pattern, here. [Wink]

Moral of the story: if you want leading Democrats to come clean on their taxes, nominate them for a Cabinet position. [Cool]

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"The Light shines on in darkness . . ."
- John 1: 3 -

Posts: 7539 | From: Wichita, KS | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged |

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