The earmark ATM machines in congress

Debra Saunders:

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This so-called reform Congress hasn't matched Republicans on the earmark front yet, but the Democratic-led Congress is warming to earmarks.

The swamp isn't likely to be drained with Mrs. Pelosi throwing her support behind Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania, a Prince of Earmarks who sponsored $163 million worth of earmarks in seven spending bills this year, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Worse, the so-called Democratic reform that was supposed to discourage pork spending by making earmarks more transparent now seems likely to fuel the Democrats' spending spree. Rep. Nancy Boyda, Kansas Democrat, told the New York Times, "My guess is that next year I'm going to be putting in more earmarks."

Over time, expect fewer Democrats to lament, as Rep. David Obey, Wisconsin Democrat, did, that lawmakers have come to see themselves as "ATM machines for our districts."

As for the five-year, $286-billion, pork-rich farm bill passed by the House, consider the words of Rep. Jim Cooper, Tennessee Democrat, who told Roll Call that Mrs. Pelosi "had to buck every editorial page in America on the farm bill" — like that was a good thing.

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The problem with the old Republicans is the problem with the new Democrats. Both parties only want to offer more something for everyone, with the promise someone else will pay for it.

No wonder the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found 24 percent of voters approve of the job this new, improved Congress is doing — as opposed to President Bush's 31 percent approval rating.

So why the bipartisan grasping? Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, likes to say, "Earmarks are the gateway drug that leads to spending addiction in Congress." It seems as though members of both parties either can't help themselves, or they are convinced bad governance is what voters want.

Sen. Coburn is one of the few heroes in the fight against this epidemic. The good news is that the media is not giving the Democrats the free ride they expected on this issue. That may be the most surprising turn of events since they took control of Congress. The Republicans led by John Bahner in the House have been taking this debate to the Democrats and it is a target rich environment with porkers like Murtha at the public trough.