In a measure of just how unrepentant our congressional members are over rampant corruption and waste in government, barely one-fourth of the Senate voted to freeze earmarks for just one year. It was a vote of utter contempt for not just government reform but the voters . . . and they are probably right.
Last year, Congress approved 12,884 earmarks — a practice that costs roughly $18 billion a year.
Earmarks are the legislative currency of corruption. For past columns and entries, click here and here.
This amendment was merely an experiment to see if members could stop raiding the treasury for just twelve months — just to see if it were possible. It is not — at least with this crowd.
All three of the presidential candidates voted for the amendment, but have used earmarks. Both McCain and Obama have released records on their earmarks while Clinton has been less forthcoming.
Clinton set the high mark among the three for use of earmarks- raking up an astonishing
$342 million worth of earmarks last year — putting her in the top ten senators cashing in on this roundly condemned practice.
Obama secured $98 million in funding for Illinois projects.
For the full story, click here.