Noting that the $410 billion omnibus spending bill passed by Congress last night is “imperfect,” President Obama this morning spoke on the topic of earmarks, the inclusion of which in the bill was a rallying point for Republican opposition.
The president said he plans to sign the spending bill despite the presence of earmarks “because it is necessary for the ongoing functions of government” – though, notably, he did not hold a public signing ceremony.
The president said some earmarks are legitimate. “Done right,” he said, “earmarks give legislators the opportunity to direct federal money to worthy projects that benefit people in their district, and that’s why I have opposed their outright elimination.”
In a shot aimed largely at Republicans, he also said he finds “it ironic that some of those who railed the loudest against this bill because of earmarks actually inserted earmarks of their own – and will tout them in their own states and districts.”
Still, he said, “earmarks have been used as a vehicle for waste, fraud, and abuse.” He said he viewed his signing of the spending bill as “a departure point for more far-reaching change” and called for reforms to prevent earmark abuse in the future.
The president then laid out three principles for proper use of earmarks. First, he said, they “must have a legitimate and worthy public purpose” and be publicly aired in advance.
Second, since the “awarding of earmarks to private companies is the single most corrupting element of this practice,” the president said “any earmark for a for-profit private company should be subject to the same competitive bidding requirements as other federal contracts.”
Third, he said, an earmark must not be traded for political favors – something that “should go without saying.”
And fourth, he vowed to seek to eliminate any earmarks that the adminiration determines have “no legitimate public purpose.” - CBS News
What a bunch of crappy crap crap. The Government is running just fine without this bill. They are mandated to run at previous years levels until a spending bill is fine. Don't tell me that it was necessary. Plus, the Stimulus bill added funds to their coffers anyways.
Who is the man behind the curtain?
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