Election year coversion on opposing earmarks
Like a death bed conversion to Christianity, politicians are lining up to swear off earmarks during the 2008 election season. Even Obama and Hillary Clinton are joining McCain in agreeing to a moratorium. Whether there will be 60 senators in total who agree with them is a another matter. Harry Reid is still a non believer in swearing off earmarks and Mitch McConnell is undecided.
The arguments for earmarks put forward by Kit Bond sound like problems with the appropriation process that could be fixed with better management instead of earmarks. I see the Obama, Hillary Clinton move as a recognition of the importance of the issue to voters, although the Times suggest that they are also wanting to get more power for the Presidency they might win.
The Times says the Democrats are concerned about the Republicans getting credit for ending a practice they were responsible for greatly expanding. I know they are loathe to take advice from Ronald Reagan but they should remember his statement about what can be accomplished when people do not care who gets credit for it.
The arguments for earmarks put forward by Kit Bond sound like problems with the appropriation process that could be fixed with better management instead of earmarks. I see the Obama, Hillary Clinton move as a recognition of the importance of the issue to voters, although the Times suggest that they are also wanting to get more power for the Presidency they might win.
The Times says the Democrats are concerned about the Republicans getting credit for ending a practice they were responsible for greatly expanding. I know they are loathe to take advice from Ronald Reagan but they should remember his statement about what can be accomplished when people do not care who gets credit for it.
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