Ron Paul is one of the worst for earmarks. He attaches earmarks to bills he is certain will pass and then votes against the bill. The bill passes, Paul’s constituents get their “free stuff” and Paul claims he voted against the earmarks.
Since this Earmarks issue has come up, I have some links and quotes on this.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,508604,00.html
Ron Paul - “I have never voted for an earmark. I voted against all appropriation bills.”
“An earmark is a congressional provision that directs federal agencies to spend funds already authorized on specific projects.
If the funds aren’t earmarked, the agencies can spend the money any way they see fit.
That is, the executive branch, rather than Congress, will determine how the taxpayer’s money is spent.”
http://www.ronpaul.com/2009-03-11/ron-paul-on-earmarks/
“What is done is those earmarks are removed and some of them are very wasteful and unnecessary,
but that money then goes to the executive branch.”
“We’re supposed to tell the people how we’re spending the money.
Not to just deliver it in the lump sum to the executive branch and let them deal with it.”