Fallon Calls for End of Earmarks

From Ed Fallon for Congress:

Ed Fallon today called for abolishing congressional earmarks, challenging incumbent Congressman Leonard Boswell to match his own pledge to refuse earmarks and to work to end the practice. "If Congressman Boswell isn't agreeable to earmark reform, then I believe the public has an interest in hearing a debate between the two of us on the issue," Fallon said.

"Earmarks are the epitome of pork barrel spending, and are an abuse of power, position, and taxpayers' trust," Fallon said. "They allow members to direct spending to their pet projects, often as payback to big donors. Lobbyists spent $160 million to influence Congress in 2006. They got great return on their investment -- $12 billion in earmarks."

Fallon pointed out that his opponent in this race, Rep. Leonard Boswell, is a worse than average offender. In 2007, the average House member who was not a member of the Appropriations Committee obtained $4 million in earmarks. "Despite increased public outrage over earmarks," Fallon said, "Congressman Boswell actually increased his use of earmarks this year, securing earmarks worth $33.1 million, up from $32.3 in the previous budget."

Fallon noted that he has endorsed the Change Congress movement's pledge to abolish earmarks, and that his own pledge is featured on the first page of his campaign website: "I, Ed Fallon, do hereby pledge that I will personally support spending reform in Congress by refusing to seek, support, or enact earmarks during the appropriations process, and will work for the abolition of earmarks."

Earmarks 'R U.S.

Last Friday, White House Press Secretary Tony Fratto said the Democrats need a "12-step group to deal” with its earmarks addiction. Earmarks are those anonymous additions a.k.a. pork that Senators and Representatives tag on to appropriation bills and generally are tricky to trace back to them.

As the press secretary to a President who understands dependency issues, Fratto conveniently neglected to say that some key Republicans were sipping from the gravy boat themselves. According to the Hill

"Fratto did not mention the earmark haul made by senior Republicans. Sen. Thad Cochran (Miss.), ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $774 million worth of earmarks in total. After Cochran, Sen. Ted Stevens (Alaska), the second-ranking Republican on Appropriations, scored more money for special projects than any other member of Congress: $502 million.

Rep. Bill Young (Fla.), the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, was the second-biggest recipient of earmarked funds in the House, with $161 million."

How did Iowa's delegation do?

19 House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education earmarks totalling $3,925,000 for Iowa

71 Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education earmarks totalling $87,411,000 for Sen. Harkin (D-IA)

18 Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education earmarks totalling $10,045,000 for Sen. Grassley (R-IA)

A Future Support Group? Hey, why so defensive?
Rep. Murtha (D-PA) has Defense earmarks totalling $166,500,000
Rep. Lewis (R-CA) has Defense earmarks totalling $112,000,000
Rep. Kingston (R-GA) has Defense earmarks totalling $72,187,000
Rep. Young (R-FL) has Defense earmarks totalling $143,200,000
Rep. Visclosky (D-IN) has Defense earmarks totalling $53,500,000
Rep. Moran (D-VA) has Defense earmarks totalling $47,000,000


More earmarks? Try Earmark Watch