Stopping earmarks at the ballot box
August 15th, 2007, 11:24 am · Post a Comment · posted by Le Templar
Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., is asked often by his admirers what does it take to change the tax-and-spend culture in Washington? So often, in fact, that Flake has developed a vaguely pleasing but rote response about campaigning for "limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility." Sounds nice, but the answer fails to offer any specifics on how to renew the spirit of the Reagan revolution from a quarter-century ago or the Contract with America from the mid-1990s.Flake went through the same routine Tuesday night during a nationwide teleconference sponsored by a group called Americans for Prosperity. The phone call was largely a love fest for citizens who favor a much smaller federal government. Flake got to promote his new legislative proposal that any earmarks for transportation projects would have to be deducted from a state’s overall highway funding allocation. (Of course, that would reduce the influence of many lawmakers, which means Flake’s proposal won’t go far). Americans for Prosperity got to promote a two-day Washington rally in October that the group hopes will attract thousands of frustrated voters to lobby Congress for, well, limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility.But near the end of hourlong chat, Flake mentioned a specific change that voters everywhere can make, without traveling to the nation’s capitol, which could really alter how Congress operates."The way here is to make sure that politicians know that standing for pork barrel spending is a detriment, not a plus," Flake said. "That it’s better for someone running for election to say ‘I voted against that earmark’ rather than ‘I got the money for that museum.’ As soon as we change the dynamic, we’ll change the process."The question is: are voters willing to forgo their little share of the pork ribs in the hope that more responsible leadership will respond by spending less money, balancing the budget and lowering our taxes? Congress will see a new light if the answer ever becomes "Yes!"
