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Earmarks represent the worst of
Congressional spending abuses and should be eliminated as a means
of funding pet projects of Congressmen and Senators. While not a
large portion of the budget (if one can call $20 billion a small
percentage), earmarks increase the possibility of conflicts of
interest, cronyism, and expenditures on nonessential programs at a
time when we need to carefully allocate every dollar spent by the
government. They are also focal point of criticism of the entire
budgeting process by citizens who believe earmarks reward
organization, businesses, special interests, or supporters who
would otherwise not deserve funding through the normal budgeting
process.
A criticism of earmarks does not
indict all as wasteful, abusive, or unnecessary, however, too many
are not essential to the operation of the government. During a
time when citizens worry about excess spending by Congress and a
growing deficit crisis, earmarks should not be a part of the
budgeting process.
I promise I will never employ
earmarks and will be an advocate in Congress to permanently
eliminate them as a means to allocate money. |
