The Federalist announced
Legislative earmarks have grown. While some represent legitimate efforts, many have resulted in an ineffective distribution of government resources.
So, pork barrel, quid pro quo, bringing home the bacon = Legislative tools. In fact, candidates for the Lege during their job interviews (aka campaigns) merely need to convince a small number of the population in their district to vote for them because their skill set is finagling pork. It should be noted that pork is sometimes bartered on social issues. As long as the small number of the population in the district that votes for them is greater than the small number of the population in the district that votes for their opponents, they win. But the honorable Rep. Daniel E. Bosley has a different perspective in last year’s T & G [http://www.telegram….]
Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, said the House tried to keep the earmarks to a minimum, but also said that earmarks can be a legitimate way to spur smaller local development projects.
“What’s one man’s pork is another man’s economic stimulus,” he said.
Okay, so what do our friends at Common Cause have to say about earmarks? [http://www.commonblo…]
The thing about earmarks is that there’s a fine line between bringing money home to your district as a way of representing your constituents’ interests and blatant pandering to appearances in an election year.
A Republican Rep. recently shared some gloat with me over the perceived smack down DiMasi is throwing at Patrick with the Loophole controversy. Yet curiously, the Rep. is a member of the now silent minority on the issue of eliminating Earmarks. Not too long ago it was a Republican battle cry, from the T & G above,
The head of the state Republican Party was more critical of the practice, accusing incumbent Democrats, who hold overwhelming majorities in both chambers, of using the earmarks to curry favor with voters.
Present events including DiMasi’s announcement about the Loophole issue was preceded by Sen. Murray’s DOE (Defense Of Earmarks) comments and appropriations originating from the Lege. Is it possible these issues are about egos and territory? Nah…
Commonwealth and Earmark, another oxymoron.
