wrobert
02-11-2008, 10:33 PM
Tallahassee–Florida Democrat Party Chairman, Karen Thurman will host Congressman David Obey (D-Wisconsin) today for a fundraiser in Tallahassee. In her invitation Thurman calls Obey “a tireless fighter for the American people” and one of the smartest people that I served with in Congress,” but Floridians know Obey as the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee who has wasted taxpayer money by dropping billions of dollars in earmarks and pork-barrel projects into bills in the dead of night.
“Rather than fighting to cut spending by ending secret and wasteful earmarks, Obey tried to take the earmark process underground,” said RPOF Chairman Jim Greer. “Floridians deserve open and honest representation in Congress, not someone whose word you can only trust while people are watching.”
DEMOCRATIC PROMISE #66: Subject Earmarks to Public Scrutiny <http://republicanleader.house.gov/brokenpromises/p_transparency.html#66#66>
Promise: “Put an end to secret earmarks...” – Letter to Majority Leader Boehner (R-OH) from Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Democratic Caucus Chairman James Clyburn (D-SC), and Democratic Caucus Vice-Chairman John Larson (D-CT), February 9, 2006
Promise: “Pelosi and Reid are making the loudest calls for an end to basically anonymous earmarks that, late in the process, are quietly attached to legitimate legislation and then approved by legislators who are unaware of the earmarks and their intent.” – “Democrats Must Make Good on their Vows to Ensure Transparency in Earmarks,” Columbus Dispatch Editorial, November 20, 2006
Promise: “We will bring transparency and openness to the budget process and to the use of earmarks, and we will give the American people the leadership they deserve.” – Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Release, December 12, 2006
Broken Promise: “When Democrats took control of Congress four months back, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., bragged it would take her party less than 100 hours to curb wasteful pork spending by requiring members to attach their names to their ‘earmarks,’ exposing such waste to the harsh light of public scrutiny. She failed to mention this ‘reform’ would remain in effect for little more than 100 days.” – “Democratic Earmark Reforms Lasted 100 Days,” Las Vegas Review Journal Editorial, June 5, 2007
Broken Promise: “The new game that House Appropriations Chairman David Obey intends to play with budget earmarks this year is worse than the usual hide-and-seek. He is taking the whole thing underground, as though he is to be trusted as a one-man auditor for congressional pork. If this is to be the new ethic that Democrats promised, voters might want their ballots back.” – “Pet Projects Pushed Out of Public Eye,” St. Petersburg Times Editorial, June 5, 2007
Broken Promise: “Rather than including specific pet projects, grants and contract in legislation as it is being written, Democrats are following an order by House Appropriations Committee Chairman to keep the bills free of such earmarks until it is too late for critics to effectively challenge them. – “House Democrats Sidestep Their Own Rule to Shield Lawmakers’ Pet Projects From Scrutiny,” Associated Press, June 3, 2007
“Rather than fighting to cut spending by ending secret and wasteful earmarks, Obey tried to take the earmark process underground,” said RPOF Chairman Jim Greer. “Floridians deserve open and honest representation in Congress, not someone whose word you can only trust while people are watching.”
DEMOCRATIC PROMISE #66: Subject Earmarks to Public Scrutiny <http://republicanleader.house.gov/brokenpromises/p_transparency.html#66#66>
Promise: “Put an end to secret earmarks...” – Letter to Majority Leader Boehner (R-OH) from Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Democratic Caucus Chairman James Clyburn (D-SC), and Democratic Caucus Vice-Chairman John Larson (D-CT), February 9, 2006
Promise: “Pelosi and Reid are making the loudest calls for an end to basically anonymous earmarks that, late in the process, are quietly attached to legitimate legislation and then approved by legislators who are unaware of the earmarks and their intent.” – “Democrats Must Make Good on their Vows to Ensure Transparency in Earmarks,” Columbus Dispatch Editorial, November 20, 2006
Promise: “We will bring transparency and openness to the budget process and to the use of earmarks, and we will give the American people the leadership they deserve.” – Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Release, December 12, 2006
Broken Promise: “When Democrats took control of Congress four months back, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., bragged it would take her party less than 100 hours to curb wasteful pork spending by requiring members to attach their names to their ‘earmarks,’ exposing such waste to the harsh light of public scrutiny. She failed to mention this ‘reform’ would remain in effect for little more than 100 days.” – “Democratic Earmark Reforms Lasted 100 Days,” Las Vegas Review Journal Editorial, June 5, 2007
Broken Promise: “The new game that House Appropriations Chairman David Obey intends to play with budget earmarks this year is worse than the usual hide-and-seek. He is taking the whole thing underground, as though he is to be trusted as a one-man auditor for congressional pork. If this is to be the new ethic that Democrats promised, voters might want their ballots back.” – “Pet Projects Pushed Out of Public Eye,” St. Petersburg Times Editorial, June 5, 2007
Broken Promise: “Rather than including specific pet projects, grants and contract in legislation as it is being written, Democrats are following an order by House Appropriations Committee Chairman to keep the bills free of such earmarks until it is too late for critics to effectively challenge them. – “House Democrats Sidestep Their Own Rule to Shield Lawmakers’ Pet Projects From Scrutiny,” Associated Press, June 3, 2007