Democrats Refuse to Cut Pork From THUD Appropriations Bill

Thursday, July 29, 2010 11:47 AM

During the appropriations process, CFA keeps a watchful eye on the pork barreling that inevitably leaches into the process. As in past years, we have had a few champions of accountability emerge, challenging the earmarking process. Yesterday, Rep. Flake called attention to the $230 million in earmarks in the Military Construction Appropriations bill, and today he has filed a dozen amendments to strike earmarks from the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill.

In the wake of a self-imposed Republican moratorium on earmarks, almost all (save six) of the 461 earmarks in the bill are Democrat-sponsored. Thus, leadership, not keen on seeing their pork projects cut, has drastically dialed back the amendments they are allowing to be ruled in order – on top of the earmark rescissions offered by Rep. Flake, Rep. Campbell filed nine pork-cutting measures and Rep. Hensarling filed eight. Both Campbell and Hensarling were denied all of their amendments, and Flake is being allowed to offer four. In contrast, last year nine of the sixteen earmark amendments offered were allowed to be introduced.

We warned of an increasing trend in these type of antics on the hill when leadership started debating appropriations bills under a closed rule last year – they are traditionally debated under open rules, meaning amendments can be offered at any time. As midterms loom, Democrats are hesitant to shine more light on their profligacy, and are instead manipulating the rules of the House to keep their earmarks safe. This, of course, from the most honest, open and ethical Congress in  history.

We applaud the efforts of Reps. Flake, Campbell and Hensarling and look forward to supporting further initiatives by these advocates to reel in pork-barrel politics.

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