WASHINGTON (AP) – Can lawmakers take home the bacon without it being pork?
It’s a question that irritates Republicans when considering whether to join a democratic drive to revive earmarking, the much-maligned practice of lawmakers directing federal spending to a specific project or institution in the home country. Examples include a new bridge, community library, or university research program.
In the 2000s, ear tags were linked to corruption, sparking outrage and their banishment in both the House and Senate. But many in Congress say the ban has gone too far because it has relinquished “purse power” to party leaders and gives executive and legislators fewer incentives to work with members of the other party on important legislation. .
Democratic Owners in Parliament see a solution and propose a renewed process that will allow lawmakers to make public requests for “funding community projects” in federal spending. To protect against transplantation, the process includes safeguards to avoid conflicts of interest.
Whether earmarking becomes bipartisan could have huge implications not only for spending allotment across the country, but also for President Joe Biden, who is preparing. for a massive infrastructure boost that he hopes will receive significant Republican backing. With the right earmarks, bipartisanship could prove easier to achieve, as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle could have reasons to back bills they would otherwise be against.
“This is a matter of allowing members to serve their own voters,” said Representative Tom Cole, R-Okla. “Someone will make these decisions – and I don’t want to bash federal bureaucrats – but someone who’s never been to my district probably doesn’t know the needs as well as I do.”
Now that Congress has allotted nearly $ 6 trillion in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some conservatives are baffled at the prospect of Republicans participating in a Democratic spending period. They say their party should oppose earmarking, not revitalize it.
“This is not the time to fall into the swamp, or into the dark hole of ear tags,” said Rep. Ted Budd, RN.C. “We now need to draw a clear line between Republicans and Democrats.”
For now, the debate over earmarking is mainly taking place behind the scenes, with House Republican leaders holding a listening session on the issue Monday evening.
“It really feels like a jump ball,” said Budd. “Some of them are very opposed, just like me. The older members who have been here much longer tend to be for it.”
Concerned about what lies ahead, Republican members in both chambers of Congress this year sponsored legislation to ban ear tags. Eleven Republicans have added their names to a bill sponsored by Senator Steve Daines, R-Mont., And 10 Republicans have signed a House version of Rep. Ralph Norman, RS.C.
About three dozen lawmakers also signed a letter on Wednesday urging Credit Committee leaders in both chambers to avoid a return to earmarking. Budd led the effort, saying he told groups outside of the Beltway and inside to contact their members and let them know “how precarious this is.”
The end of earmarking came quickly a decade ago, when House Republicans took the majority and quickly banned the practice. President Barack Obama promised in a State of the Union address that “if a bill comes to my desk with earmarks in it, I will veto it.” The Senate Credit Committee soon followed with its own moratorium.
It was a popular move after headlines drew the nation’s attention to Alaska’s $ 223 million “bridge to nowhere” and Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham’s guilty plea for accepting bribes from companies in exchange for sending government contracts their way. President Donald Trump pardoned the GOP eight-term congressman earlier this year when he left the White House.
Over the years, the moratorium has been enforced by party rules and committee protocols. It does not exist in house or senate rules, or by law.
In late February, when Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., Took charge of the powerful Credit Committee, she said it was time for a change. When done properly, they and other Democrats say a defined funding request process can make lawmakers more responsive to their constituents.
She has outlined several requirements that legislators must meet to apply for funding, including;
– All requests must be submitted online.
– Members must declare that they and their families have no financial interest in the projects they apply for.
– Members can apply for funding for state or local government grants and for non-profit organizations, but not to help for-profit businesses. A maximum of 10 requests per member will be processed.
– The total amount of expenditure on projects may not exceed 1% of discretionary expenditure. Such expenses do not include rights programs such as Medicare and Social Security, or the cost of federal debt financing.
Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, an experienced member of the Appropriations committee, said he supports “limited fashion ear tags.”
“As long as they’re transparent and I have to put my name on them, I’ve been asking for this stuff,” Simpson said. ‘I’m not going to ask for something stupid for people to beat me up. I’m going to say the city of Boise asked for this stuff because they needed help in this area. “
Rep. Peter DeFazio, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, also announced that he would allow ear tags in the next road and transit infrastructure bill to be drafted in the committee. He said requests should include letters of support, funding sources for the full cost of the project, the status of the project, and a description of options for the public to comment.
The Republican on the committee, Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri said ear tags would not increase the amount of money spent in an account. They just spend that money differently.
“It just changes who makes the decision. And if you have bureaucrats who are not elected and who do not have to resist the criticism of their decisions, then you have no responsibility whatsoever for how those dollars are spent, ”said Graves. “That’s something I’m pretty good at.”
Norman is concerned that ear tags would be used to entice Republicans to vote for bills with expensive price tags.
“You have priorities in your family budget,” said Norman. And the priority for this country today is to get a solid financial base. Will eartags do that? I would argue that they will not. “
The Senate seems less farther in its earmarking schedule, but Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Said on Wednesday that he expects lawmakers to be able to ask what he called “ appropriated spending.
“I am perfectly willing to divide it equally between Republicans and Democrats. And so it is up to them whether they want it. If they don’t, we’re just talking on the Democratic side, ”Leahy said.