An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.
Search
Close
  • Support
  • Store
  • About
  • ThinkCivics+
Menu
  • Support
  • Store
  • About
  • ThinkCivics+
Sign In
Subscribe
Support
Home Economy

3,309 New Earmarks Proposed By 324 Members Of Congress Cost Taxpayers $10 Billion

Congressional earmarks were banned for a decade.

ThinkCivics Newswire by ThinkCivics Newswire
May 17, 2021
in Economy
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
0
3,309 New Earmarks Proposed By 324 Members Of Congress Cost Taxpayers $10 Billion

RelatedPosts

49 Senate Republicans, Joe Manchin Move to Scrap Biden ESG Retirement Rule

Report: IRS Three Times More Likely To Audit Blacks

Congressional earmarks were banned for a decade.

Last week, however, 3,309 earmarks from 220 Democrats and 104 Republicans were proposed. Pork is back on the table. The total tab for taxpayers is nearly $10 billion. We broke our investigation at Forbes where we also included links to our interactive map – we mapped all earmarks by congressional district.

It’s a reminder of why the practice was banned as the “currency of corruption in Congress.”

Late Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) spearheaded the 2011 ban, calling earmarks “the gateway drug” to corruption and overspending.

Recently, some House Republicans criticized the party’s move to join with Democrats on earmarks. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) argued that earmarks are “little more than legislative bribery.”

However, 104 Republicans signed onto the Democrat-backed spending measure.

Examples of Republican proposed earmarks include requests from Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) for $2 million for two new YMCAs in Ottawa and Joliet; $1.2 million for a “Canandaigua Trolley” from Rep. Chris Jacobs (R-NY); and $18.6 million to rebuild the fire station in Kodiak, Alaska (Rep. Don Young R-AK).

Examples of Democrat proposed earmarks include a $5,000 request to purchase “Santa gifts” for seniors in Beech Grove (Rep. Andre Carson D-IN); $250,000 to expand the Michelle Obama Library (Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan D-CA); $300,000 for a new dog park in Montebello (Rep. Linda Sanchez D-CA); and $7.7 million for a Tampa Street Car project (Rep. Kathy Castor D-FL).

The national debt stands at $28 trillion today, and continuing earmarking pet projects will only drive the national debt higher.

Bringing back earmarks is the fiscal equivalent of bringing back the Swine Flu.

Syndicated with permission from RealClearWire.

The #WasteOfTheDay is presented by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com.

By Adam Andrzejewski for RealClearPolicy

This article was originally published by the Political Insider. Read the original article.

ThinkCivics Newswire

ThinkCivics researches, examines, and reports on issues that matter most. We deliver explanative, fearless, and insightful analysis for public consumption.

thinkcivics.com
Tags: CongressDemocratsEarmarksLifeNational SecurityOpinionRealClearWireSpending
Next Post
What border crisis? Biden admin redirects funds from COVID pandemic over child-migrant tsunami

What border crisis? Biden admin redirects funds from COVID pandemic over child-migrant tsunami

Jen Psaki’s Response to Israel Leveling Hamas/Media Building Shows How Lost They Are

Jen Psaki's Response to Israel Leveling Hamas/Media Building Shows How Lost They Are

Glenn Greenwald Reveals Why Leftist Media Outlet Is Targeting Conservative Reporters Covering BLM/Antifa

Glenn Greenwald Reveals Why Leftist Media Outlet Is Targeting Conservative Reporters Covering BLM/Antifa

Facebook Twitter Rss
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submissions
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submissions
  • Contact Us
  • Policies & standards
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and conditions

© 2023 ThinkCivics Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
  • Home
  • About
  • Store
  • Contact Us
  • Support Us
  • Join
Facebook Twitter Rss
© 2022 ThinkCivics Media. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In