House Republicans Admit Earmark Ban is Nothing More than a Political Stunt Rehberg Confirms He's at the Beck and Call of Party Bosses
Helena, Mont.--In an interview this week with The Hill political newspaper, Republican Appropriations Committee Leaders in Congress admitted the reasons behind the so-called "earmark ban" were political and, in fact, the ban takes important power away from the states and hands it over to President Obama. Montana Congressman Dennis Rehberg, said he's blindly following the lead of Republican party bosses on the issues instead of standing up for important priorities that bring jobs to Montana.
From the Hill:
Rep. Dennis Rehberg, R-Montana
Another cardinal said it would be up to the full GOP conference to determine to future of earmarks. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), the chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education subcommittee declined to offer a personal opinion. "Those kinds of decisions are made by the Republican Conference," he emphasized.
Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho
"But there is going to come a time when somebody's going to need to do something in their district -- totally appropriate -- and they're going to find that working with the agency is difficult because they might have a different view and they won't be able to earmark money to do something that is totally appropriate to do," Simpson said.
"What we have really done is turn authority over to the administrative branch of the government, something we have been doing for 200 years, and I think it needs to stop and Congress needs to re-establish some of its authority. That means the ability to direct funding."
"I don't find a problem with me deciding that I want some of the money in the state and tribal assistance grants going to help a community in Idaho rebuild their water system," said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), the new chairman of the Interior and Environment spending subcommittee and a close friend of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who ushered in the new GOP rules. "I can make that determination because I know that district better than somebody from the EPA," he added.
Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Virginia
Commerce and Justice subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf (R-Va.) said he believes the earmark moratorium should be temporary and that the blanket ban unfairly limits the ability of lawmakers to make policy.
Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Florida
"My view is when we look at earmarks, it is a constitutional responsibility to direct spending, but the perception is that it is something we shouldn't be doing. I don't know when or if we would do it again," Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), the head of the Legislative Branch subcommittee, said.
Read the full article, "Cardinals say ban on earmarks is not forever" HERE.
