In a Capitol growing ever more fractious, Republicans and Democrats
managed to forge bipartisanship Wednesday on one of the few things they
can all agree to: returning to the days of pork-barrel, or earmark,
spending.
While promising to avoid the abuses that led to prison time and deep embarrassment, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pleaded for Republican leaders to restore earmarks as a central part of legislating on Capitol Hill. They said members of Congress know best how to spend taxpayers’ money.
Democrats even promised not to use pork-barrel spending against Republicans in election campaigns. They said they are prepared to link arms and jump with Republicans back into the trough.
“This will be a bipartisan issue. This is not going to be a ‘gotcha’ issue,” vowed Rep. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the second-ranking Democrat in the House. “I think we can do it.”
Republicans have begun the process of reviving earmarks more than seven years after they imposed a ban on the practice. Rank-and-file members say they have given up too much power to the executive branch.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/17/republicans-democrats-agree-need-earmark-spending/
While promising to avoid the abuses that led to prison time and deep embarrassment, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pleaded for Republican leaders to restore earmarks as a central part of legislating on Capitol Hill. They said members of Congress know best how to spend taxpayers’ money.
Democrats even promised not to use pork-barrel spending against Republicans in election campaigns. They said they are prepared to link arms and jump with Republicans back into the trough.
“This will be a bipartisan issue. This is not going to be a ‘gotcha’ issue,” vowed Rep. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the second-ranking Democrat in the House. “I think we can do it.”
Republicans have begun the process of reviving earmarks more than seven years after they imposed a ban on the practice. Rank-and-file members say they have given up too much power to the executive branch.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/17/republicans-democrats-agree-need-earmark-spending/
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