Democrats really cutting earmarks?

ballz2wallz · 07-18-2007, 02:57 PM

Well, we all know that one of the major talking points of the new Democratic Congress is the reduction of earmarks to reign in the massive spending of the Republican Congress. Hell, even the NYT is bragging about what a great job the House is doing. But what about this?

What's a paltry one million dollars to a member of Congress?

Well, apparently not enough to know if an organization about to receive that big block of cash actually exists.

Republican Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona, the fiscal crusader who's never met an earmark he likes, questioned Democratic Rep. Peter J. Visclosky of Indiana on the House floor Tuesday about whether the Center for Instrumented Critical Infrastructure actually exists - since, hey, it's getting like a million bucks or something.

Visclosky, who chairs the spending subcommittee responsible for the project, had to admit that, well, he didn't have a clue.

After a lengthy back-and-forth, Flake, complaining that his staff couldn't find a website for the center, asked Visclosky, "Does the center currently exist?"

"At this time, I do not know," the Indiana Democrat replied. "But if it does not exist, the monies could not go to it."

And who could possibly be the sponsor of such an earmark? Yes, you guessed it, the man Republicans love to hate, Pennsylvania Democrat John P. Murtha.

Despite the money's uncertain destination, the House rejected Flake's measure to strike the funds, 326-98. And the Visclosky bill also sailed through, 312-112.

As I said, what's one million dollars to a member of Congress?
UPDATE: I failed to report last night that a certificate filed with the requested funds says the money is actually earmarked to Concurrent Technologies Corporation, a nonprofit technological consulting firm. A brief search of campaign finance records shows CTC President and CEO Daniel R. DeVos, of alternately Central City and Johnstown, Pa. has contributed $7,000 to Murtha's reelection campaign since April 2002.

Something is awry...

Donkey® · 07-18-2007, 02:58 PM

When the Republicans cut earmarks, i'll care if the Democrats do or not.

Linzyhop · 07-18-2007, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Well, we all know that one of the major talking points of the new Democratic Congress is the reduction of earmarks to reign in the massive spending of the Republican Congress. Hell, even the NYT is bragging about what a great job the House is doing. But what about this?

Something is awry...

i exist!!!!!!!

i could use a million.

ballz2wallz · 07-18-2007, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

When the Republicans cut earmarks, i'll care if the Democrats do or not.

Oh you're one of those are ya...

JaJae · 07-18-2007, 03:01 PM

Money down the drain. Both parties are doing it. Only one man running for president would actually do something about it.

ballz2wallz · 07-18-2007, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Money down the drain. Both parties are doing it. Only one man running for president would actually do something about it.

Fred!

Donkey® · 07-18-2007, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Money down the drain. Both parties are doing it. Only one man running for president would actually do something about it.

And he wouldn't be able to do shit about it either because Congress would just override everything he would attempt.

thomez · 07-18-2007, 03:26 PM

a million is really nothing to speak of when they waste literally billions every day

Linzyhop · 07-18-2007, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by thomez

a million is really nothing to speak of when they waste literally billions every day

it is plenty to speak of. it could make a huge difference to someone else when applied correctly.

thomez · 07-18-2007, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

it is plenty to speak of. it could make a huge difference to someone else when applied correctly.

it would be great to return to the taxpayers, sure

AVengeance · 07-18-2007, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

And he wouldn't be able to do shit about it either because Congress would just override everything he would attempt.

They'd only do it for a couple years, then we'd have them all replaced.

Linzyhop · 07-18-2007, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by thomez

it would be great to return to the taxpayers, sure

or invest in community projects. a million is still a million.

thomez · 07-18-2007, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

or invest in community projects. a million is still a million.

tax dollars have no business in "community projects"

cut taxes, that's a better idea

Donkey® · 07-18-2007, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by AVengeance

They'd only do it for a couple years, then we'd have them all replaced.

Doubtful. The useless president would be gone first.

Linzyhop · 07-18-2007, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by thomez

tax dollars have no business in "community projects"

cut taxes, that's a better idea

um, what do you think funds community projects? bridges, roads, schools, environment clean-up, innercity clean-up, need I go on?

thomez · 07-18-2007, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

um, what do you think funds community projects? bridges, roads, schools, environment clean-up, innercity clean-up, need I go on?

can you list any of those that should be funded with a federal income tax?

Linzyhop · 07-18-2007, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by thomez

can you list any of those that should be funded with a federal income tax?

who said anything about federal income tax?

Publius · 07-18-2007, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

who said anything about federal income tax?

Where do you think the Federal Government gets most of the money they hand out? It certainly isn't profits from government ventures.

SpicyMcVoodoo · 07-18-2007, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Money down the drain. Both parties are doing it. Only one man running for president would actually do something about it.

Dennis Kucinich?

Donkey® · 07-18-2007, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

Dennis Kucinich?

No, think "bandwagon fanboys"