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Dems to Wipe Out Pet Projects in Bills
AP via Breitbart.com ^ | 12/11/2006 | Andrew Taylor, AP Writer

Posted on 12/11/2006 5:37:38 PM PST by Sen Jack S. Fogbound

Dems to Wipe Out Pet Projects in Bills Dec 11 8:08 PM US/Eastern

By ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON

Democrats tidying up a cluster of unfinished spending bills dumped on them by departing Republican leaders in Congress will start by removing billions of dollars in lawmakers' pet projects next month. The move, orchestrated by the incoming chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations committees, could prove politically savvy even as it proves unpopular with other members of Congress, who as a group will lose thousands of so-called earmarks.

"There will be no congressional earmarks," Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., said Monday in a statement announcing their plans, which were quickly endorsed by incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D- Nev.

Earmarks are congressionally mandated projects such as grants for local governments, home-state universities and hospitals, roads, bridges and flood control construction, and economic development efforts not included in the president's spending proposals.

Often called "pork" by critics, their sponsors defend inserting the projects into spending bills by claiming that, as elected representatives, they know more about the needs of people in their states and government programs than the president or bureaucrats in the executive branch.

Such projects have exploded in number under GOP control of Congress over the last 12 years and at the same time have spawned a boom on Washington's K Street lobbying corridor, where consultants earn big fees by helping outsiders navigate the system.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: budgets; congress; porks
I imagine the Dems will implement their own porks in place of the Republicans!

We shall see if there is REAL reform!

1 posted on 12/11/2006 5:37:42 PM PST by Sen Jack S. Fogbound
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound
The Democrats will insert pork in the budget but they won't call it earmarks. The practice of buying votes to stay in power is not going to go away and this is one thing the Democrats do quite well.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

2 posted on 12/11/2006 5:40:50 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

Sen. Byrd arguing against earmarks is like Rosie O'Donnell arguing against donuts, or Ted Kennedy arguing against drinking, or John Kerry arguing against pompous ass-hattery, or ..... (help me out here).


3 posted on 12/11/2006 5:40:57 PM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound
It's all in what they do; not what they say. They'll be pork: The bill is due for all the votes the left pandered for.
4 posted on 12/11/2006 5:42:23 PM PST by samm1148 (Pennsylvania-They haven't taxed air--yet)
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

Democrats will ensure that every 1st grader will have access to free condoms.


5 posted on 12/11/2006 5:43:58 PM PST by LdSentinal
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound
Dems to Wipe Out Pet Projects in Bills


6 posted on 12/11/2006 5:44:41 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

Andrew Taylor, AP Writer demanded his dentist return the tooth so he could place it under his pillow....

Just kidding! Andrew Taylor, AP Writer knows everything that comes over the DNCFax in his office is BS, but his contract with AP requires that he write it out exactly as it's received.


7 posted on 12/11/2006 5:48:20 PM PST by mrsmith
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

If they do this, they will lock up control of Congress for the next 4 years by doing what fiscal conservatives have been begging the Republicans to do since 1994.


8 posted on 12/11/2006 5:48:41 PM PST by ibheath (Liberal psychosis: Don't force me to make any tough decisions - you make them, and I'll second guess)
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

It will be fun to see just which "pork" projects the Dems plan to wipe out.


9 posted on 12/11/2006 5:50:03 PM PST by trumandogz (Rudy G 2008: The "G" Stands For Gun Grabbing & Gay Lovin.)
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

Nancy jumped on that pretty quick considering that CA would stand to lose the most. Lets see how long it takes to 'compromise' some of them back in. Many earmarks are for medical equipment.


10 posted on 12/11/2006 5:56:16 PM PST by ritewingwarrior (Where does free speech end, and sedition begin?)
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

Sheets Byrd has long been building meaningless, un-needed artifacts all over W. Va. forever. There's no way they would DARE not allow it to continue for him....


11 posted on 12/11/2006 5:59:24 PM PST by traditional1
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To: ritewingwarrior

Within three weeks the dims will have a replacement for earmarks, they will be called buttresses, which is definitely more fitting.


12 posted on 12/11/2006 6:00:18 PM PST by appeal2
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

Earmarks are fly dung in the pepper shaker. The things that are driving this country broke are fraud, waste, and entitlements.


13 posted on 12/11/2006 6:00:52 PM PST by hometoroost (TSA = Thousands Standing Around)
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

"There will be no congressional earmarks," Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., said Monday

Earmarks are congressionally mandated projects such as grants for local governments, home-state universities and hospitals, roads, bridges and flood control construction, and economic development efforts

They built the system that allowed for earmarks in the first place.

I'm going to keep supporting lower tax rates,

with my vote, and voice.

I don't think the massive budgets are going to stop,

but the longer you put off paying a loan,

the cheaper the dollars are,

with real low tax rates,

we can have a long horizon to pay off the debt.


14 posted on 12/11/2006 6:15:43 PM PST by Son House
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To: Son House

Sen (kkk) Byrd when he was previously chairman of the appropriations kept adding projects that were never authorized but appropriated. This is the kettle calling the pot black.


15 posted on 12/11/2006 7:48:11 PM PST by TexasAggie65
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

Fine. Now the Dems can resist their inbred temptation to impose more entitlements on the country.


16 posted on 12/11/2006 8:06:47 PM PST by popdonnelly
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

"Just how much money would be redirected is unclear. Projects such as levees and federal grants to housing and transit authorities will still be funded, but the administration will determine how to spend pools of money that Congress usually divides up, specifying the amounts for particular projects."

The D's will not save one thin dime. The pork will be redirected from one priority to another.





17 posted on 12/12/2006 6:13:31 AM PST by zek157
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound
"There will be no congressional earmarks," Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va

One thing about our politicians they are beyond parody. Look for funding for the Robert Byrd Memorial museum of Congressional Pork in the next session of Congress. Located of course with all the other Robert Byrd Memorials in the great state of West Virginia.

18 posted on 12/12/2006 7:49:01 AM PST by Timocrat (I Emanate on your Auras and Penumbras Mr Blackmun)
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To: Sen Jack S. Fogbound

there are different congrees, too. Some of them include magnesium metal and it's important meaning for us nowadays!
more at www.magnesium.com


19 posted on 12/22/2006 10:25:30 PM PST by maggirl (magnesium marketplace)
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To: hometoroost
Agreed. I don't know why people make a big deal out of earmarks anyway. Local & state governments demand federal tax dollars, so Congresscritters are just doing what they're told.

It's the old "Cut that guy's pork but leave mine alone" quandry.

20 posted on 12/22/2006 10:30:58 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Why can't Republicans stand up to Democrats like they do to terrorists?)
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