Do you know why legislative “earmarks” suck?

I did not know what McCain meant when he said he never pursued an “earmarked” legislation. So I checked up on this interesting issue.

McCain has been opposed to earmarks for his entire career. Obama said he tried to get over $700 Million for his friends and constituents over the years. He was able to land about $240 Million. Hillary Clinton also obtained money.

I’ve learned a couple of things since yesterday about earmarks:

1. According to the New York Times the money does not necessarily go to line the pockets of friends and relaitves; Obama, for example, obtained $10 Million for a militrary arsenal in Rock Island, IL and a couple million for soybean disease research at the U. of Illinois. Some money went to school clubs and sports programs at Chicago Jesuit Academy. He also requested $1 Million for the U. of Chicago Medical Center to fund construction of a pavilion to make room for more patient treatment. Other hospitals in Illinois were on Obama’s list. Possibly Obama requested money to make his friends rich. I don’t know.

2. Some representatives use earmarks to help line the pockets of campaign contributors, friends and relatives or just for themselves.

3. Earmarking is not an illegal activity. There was a bill introduced by the Republicans but it never made it very far. Congress folks like to protect their own interests and I suspect the Republicans knew this in advance so introducing a bill was not a threat to their sucking more money from your pockets for who knows what reasons.

Take a look at this article:

FOX News Documentary Shows Congressmen Sent Millions in Earmarks to Their Own Families

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,361061,00.html

Once you read about earmarks it will be difficult for you to forget how our Congress folks are ripping us off pretty much all of the time.

~greg