Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend Me Your Earmarks

$900 million. That's how much Congress spent on earmarks, or state pet projects, last year. Your and mine hard earned money going towards projects such as textile research in North Carolina, tattoo removal in California, and fish management in Alabama. For the 2010 fiscal year, the federal budget included $16.5 billion in state projects. Again, 16.5 billion dollars. The biggest offenders, according to Citizen's Against Government Waste, were Thad Cochran (R- Mississippi) and Daniel Inouye (D- Hawaii). Cochran, the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, had his name on 240 projects totaling $490 million. Inouye, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, had 151 projects totaling $387 million.

Thad Cochran (R- Mississippi)



Daniel Inouye(D- Hawaii)




The good news (if there is any)? Earmarks are down from last year by ten percent. But, earmarks are still fifteen times larger than in 1991. Among some of the pet projects included in this years budget are funding for shrimp/fishing research, potato research, pickle science (excuse me while I laugh), wool research, anti-drug school programs, local museums, and military projects that even the Pentagon rejected. Defense Secretary Robert Gates even spoke out against the large amount of funding the Pentagon received, stating it was "unnecessary".

Some lawmakers are trying to stop earmarks. Republicans in Congress proposed banning earmarks all together but the bill failed. Democrats proposed a bill against earmarks but only banned corporations. Again, the bill failed.

"I think it's a very admirable goal for the GOP to take a complete earmark moratorium. Enforcing it is going to be an issue," said Leslie Paige from Citizens Against Government Waste. "Ultimately," she said, "it's going to be up to taxpayers — if they don't like it, they are going to make those feelings known to Congress.

Common Sense- The amount of money that Congress spends on earmarks is both amazing and disgusting. I don't know where Mr. Cochran and Mr. Inouye think they have the right to ask for such money. Maybe they think they deserve it for serving on the Appropriations Committee. But it is not just them. It is all of our representatives, on both sides of the aisle, that continue to request money for state projects that are, in most cases, absolutely ridiculous. Pickle research? Are you serious? You know things are pretty bad when the Secretary of Defense tells you that the money you are trying to give him is "unnecessary". It's time we tell Congress, Republicans and Democrats, to stop the ridiculous spending on state projects. Please write your representatives and ask them to stop the pork barrel legislation!

Obama's Hometown District to go to GOP?

Most Americans would not focus on a Congressional race in a state other than their own, let alone Hawaii. However, a race for President Obama's hometown district is gaining national attention.

Honolulu City Councilman, Charles Djou, is the Republican candidate. The race draws national attention because Democrat Neil Abercrombie, who represents Hawaii's 1st Congressional District which contains Obama's hometown, is stepping down to run for governor. Over the past few weeks, Djou has received endorsements from key Republicans, such as Mitt Romney and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who have both been picked to run for President in 2012. Romney called Djou "a fiscally responsible conservative who can focus on turning the economy around".

The Democratic candidates include former Representative Ed Case and state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa. In most states, state party leaders select candidates or states hold primaries in the case of special elections. In Hawaii, all three candidates will be on the ballot. Republicans hope that having two Democrats on the ticket will split the vote and allow for Djou's victory. The special election is being held by mail, strangely enough, and will end May 22nd.

Despite confidence from Republicans, the polls aren't real clear. In January, a poll reported that Case had 37%, Hanabusa had 25%, and Djou had 17% of the vote. However, a poll released by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last week showed Case and Djou tied at 32%, Hanabusa at 27%, and nine percent undecided.





Common Sense- If Djou were to win this special election, it would be a political and moral defeat for Democrats. Politically, it would loosen their grip on the House of Representatives and prove that Democrats have lost tough with the American people. It would also signal a sign of things to come in November with more Democrats losing their seats (and I would love to wipe that stupid smile of Pelosi's face). Morally, if you're Obama, how depressing is it to know that your hometown and place of your birth falls to a Republican? I'm sure many of you say "why would he care" or "it wouldn't affect him". You may be right. He may not show that it affects him but you never really know what's going on inside someones' head now do you? The race is close and there is still over a month to go. Djou needs to stay strong, campaign on the issues that really matter, and not be drawn into petty fights with Democrats when they attack him.

Republicans Don't Need to have Minds of "Steele" to Win

While GOP Party leader, Michael Steele, is out defending and/or apologizing for some verbal, spending, or managerial mistake, Republican leaders are working behind the scenes. Many leaders are going around Steele in an attempt to take control of Congress in the midterm elections this November. Republicans are beginning to rely less on Steele's party headquarters for advice and, in some cases, funds. This decision comes after many episodes involving Steele, or his staff, including controversies over party spending and a party-paid trip to a Hollywood strip club. On Saturday, at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Steele recognized the mistakes he and his staff have made. "I'm the first here to admit that I've made mistakes and it's been incumbent on me to take responsibility to shoulder that burden, make the necessary changes and move on," Steele said.

Steele's statement came only days after a letter released by GOP headquarters revealed that only half of Republican National Committee members approve of the job Steele is doing. Many believe that the focus on Steele draws negative attention to Republicans and the GOP when a crucial election is fast approaching. Many Republican candidates are reaching out to other sources for their campaigns instead of the GOP headquarters. Senate Minority Leader, Republican Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader, Republican John Boehner, have already started efforts to gain funds from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee. While Republicans have refrained from attacking Steele in public, they have offered advice to the leader. However, many have stated that Steele will continue on his own path and handle the issue alone. With less than seven months from the midterm elections, Republicans are focusing their attention on Democrats.

Common Sense- I believe the decision to move away from Steele and the RNC at this time is crucial. I am not saying that Republicans should turn their back on Steele and start attacking him publicly. What I am saying is that Republicans need to focus on the issues at hand and continue to attack the Democrats. They need to keep talking about the issues that are important to the American people and keep the "Steele issue" on the back burner until after the election. Some Republican leaders have called for Steele to step down. I believe this to be a BIG mistake. Asking Steele to step down would only damage the GOP right now, not benefit it. My advice, once again, is for Republicans to focus on the issues that are important, keep Steele on the sideline, and worry about him after the election.