What are earmarks, and how do they get funded?

[videotoast]

Earmarks are non-competitive spending provisions a government official, including Governors, Representatives, or Senators, slip into legislation that forces the federal government to spend taxpayer dollars on the politician’s project.

Earmarks are funds assigned to certain projects that are attached to a completely unrelated appropriations bill. Say a bill is being passed that puts 25 more police on the streets in DC and say at the end of that bill there is a paragraph that says 1.5 billion dollars goes to the state of Alaska to build a bridge that goes to a city with only 50 ppl in it. (true recent earmark btw)

• There is a senator named Tom Coburn whom is notorious for bringing to the congressional floor earmarks. By him bringing them up for a vote, it ‘outs’ them.
• This point is VERY IMPORTANT - whichever party has the majority controls what earmarks go into legislation.
  -The majority leader makes the final decision as to which earmarks are allowed… there is no vote on it… nothing. Most of the time, nobody even knows about them which means a lot of the time congressman will vote on a bill that has this pork attached to it and never know they are approving it.
• There is currently a bi-partisan effort in washington to pass what is called the Pork-Barrel Reduction Act. This legislation doesn’t stop earmarks but rather, it brings them out into the open.

[videotoast]

$31 Million of YOURS goes to ACORN???

Taxpayer-Funded Nuts - we supported ACORN to the tune of $31 Million
Peggy Venable

Taxpayers: you work hard to earn a living, take care of your family, volunteer in your communities, and pay your taxes. You shouldn’t have to worry that some of those tax dollars are going to support groups that break the law and erode the value of your vote.

House Minority Leader Boehner revealed that we taxpayers have funded ACORN to the tune of $31 million - it is outrageous.

It’s time we stop taxpayer funded lobbying and advocacy. Stop funding ACORN, stop funding AARP, stop funding any group that lobbies. That would go a long way toward restoring confidence in government. Let’s stop funding lobby and advocacy activities!

[UniGeezer]

@videotoast

$31 Million of YOURS goes to ACORN???

And Obama personally contributed more than $800,000 to Acorn!

- YouTube

[videotoast]

Yes, he did, but Ted Stevens, a Republican who is currently under indictment, is the largest abuser of the earmarking system…maybe only Sen Byrd is close, since he has been in the Senate for about 245 years…

This, to me, is not a finger pointing party, but more a lesson on the waste of our Federal tax dollars, when we are in such a financial mess, as a nation.

This may be one of the best definitions I have found, yet.

For the purposes of Earmark Watch, earmarks are those spending provisions in appropriations bills that House Resolution 6 and the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 require House members and Senators, respectively, to disclose. The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 uses the euphemism “congressionally directed spending” for earmarks, which it defines as

a provision or report language included primarily at the request of a Senator providing, authorizing, or recommending a specific amount of discretionary budget authority, credit authority, or other spending authority for a contract, loan, loan guarantee, grant, loan authority, or other expenditure with or to an entity, or targeted to a specific State, locality or Congressional district, other than through a statutory or administrative formula-driven or competitive award process…

But bear in mind that there is no single agreed upon definition of earmarks. The Office of Management and Budget defines them here as, in part,

funds provided by the Congress for projects or programs where the congressional direction (in bill or report language) circumvents Executive Branch merit-based or competitive allocation processes, or specifies the location or recipient, or otherwise curtails the ability of the Executive Branch to manage critical aspects of the funds allocation process.

However, the House Report to the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill notes that

Earmarking or directed spending of Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with the Executive Branch. For example, the list included above lists 92 specific land acquisition or construction projects which have been submitted by the Administration. The Administration, in selecting these projects, goes through a process that is the functional equivalent of earmarking.

[UniGeezer]

“Earmarks” are those Congressional funds specifically guided to the “pet projects” of elected representatives, also called “pork.”
John McCain is against earmarks and the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense says he has not requested any that they can find and report.
Senator Obama and Senator Joe Biden are a different story, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) requested 326 projects worth $860.6 million between FY2006 and FY2008, according to a Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) analysis of earmark requests disclosed by the Senator. Sen. Obama did not request any earmarks for FY2009.
The variance between this number and other published reports occurs because TCS did not include requests for four national projects appearing on Sen. Obama’s FY08 request list. TCS did not include these as earmarks in any of the FY08 lawmaker tabulations.
.
The Senator [Obama] averaged nearly $286.9 million per year in earmark requests over the period he requested earmarks. However, over his term in the U.S. Senate (including the year he did not request earmarks) his four year average was $215.1 million.
The earmark request numbers are higher than the dollar amount of earmarks obtained. As an example, of the $321.8 million requested by the senator in FY2008, the final appropriations bills contained $98.6 million of Senator Obama’s original requests.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

Who are “Americans For Prosperity”? Also $31 million over how many years? How many people benefited from these projects? All important information that would put the figure in context, but the “article” does none of that.

Also the earmarks were not directly for ACORN they were for Grant Programs that ACORN projects applied for and received. I’m glad our government sets aside money for community service projects.

Earmarks come into play as ways that congress makes compromises in order to get things passed. If they need one or 2 more votes on a bill, they’ll say maybe we can get the Alaska Senators to vote for this if we put some money for an Alaskan roads and tourism project into the bill. The senate than passes the bill because they think the cost, including the earmarks, are worth the benefit of what that bill does.

[videotoast]

@ThisGuyIKnow

Who are “Americans For Prosperity”? Also $31 million over how many years? How many people benefited from these projects? All important information that would put the figure in context, but the “article” does none of that. Based on their website it seems that “American’s For Prosperity” appears to be an anti-tax lobbying group.

Also the earmarks were not directly for ACORN they were for Grant Programs that ACORN projects applied for and received. I’m glad our government sets aside money for community service projects.

Earmarks come into play as ways that congress makes compromises in order to get things passed. If they need one or 2 more votes on a bill, they’ll say maybe we can get the Alaska Senators to vote for this if we put some money for an Alaskan roads and tourism project into the bill. The senate than passes the bill because they think the cost, including the earmarks, are worth the benefit of what that bill does.

So, buying someone off, for their vote is OK with you? Whatever happened to principals and values, maybe even throw in a little integrity…

As the article states…maybe it is time to stop allowing funding, with FEDERAL tax dollars to groups (ANY OF THEM) that have lobbyists on Capitol Hill.

[petad]

@muniaddict

and obama personally contributed more than $800,000 to acorn!
youtube - obama and acorn - michael klonsky and bill ayers

there was no voter fraud! Just registration fraud!

[videotoast]

@ThisGuyIKnow

Who are “Americans For Prosperity”?

Americans for Prosperity

Our Missions
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFP Foundation) are committed to educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates in the public policy process. AFP is an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels. The grassroots members of AFP advocate for public policies that champion the principles of entrepreneurship and fiscal and regulatory restraint.

AFP Foundation is committed to educating citizens about economic policy and a return of the federal government to its Constitutional limits. AFP Foundation’s educational programs and analyses help policymakers, the media and individual citizens understand why policies that promote the American enterprise system are the best method to ensuring prosperity for all Americans. To that end, AFP and AFP Foundation supports:

* Cutting taxes and government spending in order to halt the encroachment of government in the economic lives of citizens by fighting proposed tax increases and pointing out evidence of waste, fraud, and abuse.
* Tax and Expenditure Limitations to promote fiscal responsibility.
* Removing unnecessary barriers to entrepreneurship and opportunity by sparking citizen involvement in the regulatory process early on in order to reduce red tape.
* Restoring fairness to our judicial system.

Americans for Prosperity and Americans for Prosperity Foundation are two separate entities with their own governing boards. Each is a national organization based in Washington, DC, with staff on the ground in state chapters across the nation.

[videotoast]

@petad

there was no voter fraud!

Yet…we’ll see how many Mickey Mouses end up voting…

[UniGeezer]

@petad

there was no voter fraud! Just registration fraud!

Sorry, could you make that a little larger so I can see it? LOL!!! Yes, but it IS voter fraud if those votes end up being counted! And “mickey mouse”, and all the people who voted multiple times…some over 80 times…that IS the definition of voter fraud. And what organization is known to be involved with this fraud? ACORN! Point is, we all want-or should want-only legitimate votes to count. Non-citizens, deceased, felons, fictitious and/or multiple votes should be tossed. DO we at least agree on the preceding sentence?

[videotoast]

@MuniAddict

Sorry, could you make that a little larger so I can see it? LOL!!! Yes, but it IS voter fraud if those votes end up being counted! And “mickey mouse”, and all the people who voted multiple times…some over 80 times…that IS the definition of voter fraud. And what organization is known to be involved with this fraud? ACORN! Point is, we all want-or should want-only legitimate votes to count. Non-citizens, deceased, felons, fictitious and/or multiple votes should be tossed. DO we at least agree on the preceding sentence?

It depends on if their guy wins or not…

[ThisGuyIKnow]

@videotoast

Americans for Prosperity

I know I looked at their website. They clearly have an agenda.

They are an anti-tax pro-business lobbying group. Their “Articles” are propaganda for their cause that give only the information that furthers their points and ignores anything to put it in context or actually inform anyone about the complexity of the issues.

You also seem to be confused on this being earmark related because ACORN did not get it’s $31 million dollars “Over 10 years by the way” from direct earmarks. They got the money by applying for and receiving grants on a project by project basis.

ACORN is not an earmark or pork barrel issue

[ThisGuyIKnow]

@videotoast

It depends on if their guy wins or not…

Or if your guy wins. In 2000 the GOP certainly didn’t seem to care if every vote in Florida was properly counted and used the Supreme Court to halt recounts even though the votes were close enough to demand a recount by Florida election law.

It doesn’t make it right but it’s certainly no where to point fingers since both sides clearly only want accurate voting when they have won.

[videotoast]

@ThisGuyIKnow

Or if your guy wins. In 2000 the GOP certainly didn’t seem to care if every vote in Florida was properly counted and used the Supreme Court to halt recounts even though the votes were close enough to demand a recount by Florida election law.

It doesn’t make it right but it’s certainly no where to point fingers since both sides clearly only want accurate voting when they have won.

As an Independent…I clearly thought the recount should have taken place according to state law…which I believe was done…and it was not a Federal issue…

I didn’t care if it was Gore, Kerry, Nader, Saddam Hussein or Geo Bush…everyone who can legally vote, gets one vote, and they should have to provide a legal state ID to prove they are legally a resident to vote…

Now, back to earmarks…

[videotoast]

@ThisGuyIKnow

You also seem to be confused on this being earmark related because ACORN did not get it’s $31 million dollars “Over 10 years by the way” from direct earmarks. They got the money by applying for and receiving grants on a project by project basis.

Sure, every organization has an agenda…the KKK, the Moral Majority, ACORN, and even the AFP…and Citizens Against Government Waste. (maybe your abhorrence of corporations and paying MORE taxes should have its own thread)

I guess you are going to have to parse the word “is” for me…

They got money by applying for and receiving grants that were funded by earmarks…that is fully traceable…

[ThisGuyIKnow]

@videotoast

Sure, every organization has an agenda…the KKK, the Moral Majority, ACORN, and even the AFP…and Citizens Against Government Waste.

Exactly so I read things objectively, and try to only post articles that give both sides of issues, and don’t try to manipulate opnions with numbers without giving any context.

@videotoast

They got money by applying for and receiving grants that were funded by earmarks…that is fully traceable…

Then show me.

Until legitimate data can show otherwise I stand by my position that ACORN is not an earmarks issue. Please show that all $31 million dollars comes from grant programs that were tacked onto other unrelated bills.

[BillyTheMountain]

@videotoast

Earmarks are those unsightly growths on a person’s ears. Many people try creams and gels to remove them. Others go to a dermatologist, and still others to a plastic surgeon.

And others wear a hat or grow their hair long to cover them up!!

[videotoast]

@ThisGuyIKnow

Exactly so I read things objectively, and try to only post articles that give both sides of issues, and don’t try to manipulate opnions with numbers without giving any context.

Then show me.

Until legitimate data can show otherwise I stand by my position that ACORN is not an earmarks issue. Please show that all $31 million dollars comes from grant programs that were tacked onto other unrelated bills.

As I go to work over the next week for a “RICH” small business that we own, I will try and get some of that information…I would also challenge you to find where ANY federal block grant comes from…as it is usually not too readily available information…but, as I earn a living, I will try and find that information for you.

You don’t deny that ACORN has received federal funding, though, do you?

There is no question that they have received funds from our federal tax dollars…the following is a list that I was able to find on short notice…and I don’t think Federal Tax monies should fund these LOCAL issues.

NY*
$140,000
New York Acorn programs to prevent teen pregnancy (Discretionary Grants - Juvenile Justice Programs)
NBR, H
COM
05

ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION
PHILADELPHIA
PA
$1,016,473.86
03/26/08
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION
PHILADELPHIA
PA
$1,821,596.00
03/06/08
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION
N/A
N/A
$7,850,939.00
02/24/08
ACORN INSTITUTE INC.
WASHINGTON
DC
$362,378.00
01/28/08
ACORN INSTITUTE
DALLAS
TX
$179,916.00
12/31/07
ACORN INSTITUTE
DALLAS
TX
$124,915.00
12/31/07
ACORN INSTITUTE
DALLAS
TX
$124,693.00
12/31/07
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION
ST. PAUL
MN
$100,000.00
11/20/07
NEW MEXICO ACORN FAIR HOUSING
ALBUQUERQUE
NM
$99,757.00
11/20/07
NEW MEXICO ACORN FAIR HOUSING
ALBUQUERQUE
NM
$99,724.00
01/17/07
ACORN ASSOCIATES INC.
ALBUQUERQUE
NM
$49,997.00
01/17/07
ACORN COMMUNITY LAND ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA
NEW ORLEANS
LA
$100,000.00
01/17/07
ACORN FAIR HOUSING
WASHINGTON
DC
$80,000.00
09/08/06
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION
ST. PAUL
MN
$80,000.00
09/08/06
ACORN INSTITUTE INC.
NEW ORLEANS
LA
$80,000.00
09/08/06
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION OF TEXAS
HOUSTON
TX
$49,865.00
09/08/06
ACORN COMMUNITY LAND ASSOCIATION
ALBUQUERQUE
NM
$99,775.00
09/08/06
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION OF ARIZONA
PHOENIX
AZ
$99,840.00
09/08/06
ACORN COMMUNITY LAND ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA
BALTIMORE
MD
$200,000.00
09/08/06
ACORN FAIR HOUSING
WASHINGTON
DC
$79,988.00
09/08/06
ACORN INSTITUTE INC.
NEW ORLEANS
LA
$79,896.80
09/08/06
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION
ST. PAUL
MN
$80,000.00
09/08/06
ACORN COMMUNITY LAND ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA
NEW ORLEANS
LA
$80,000.00
09/08/06
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION OF ARIZONA
PHOENIX
AZ
$95,000.00
09/08/06
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION
ST. PAUL
MN
$100,000.00
09/06/06
ACORN FAIR HOUSING, A PROJECT OF AMERICAN INSTITUTE
WASHINGTON
DC
$100,000.00
09/06/06
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION
ST. PAUL
MN
$100,000.00
09/06/06
ACORN COMMUNITY LAND ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA
NEW ORLEANS
LA
$100,000.00
09/06/06
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION
N/A
IL
$351,000.00
08/29/06
ACORN HOUSING CORPORATION
N/A
IL
$527,000.00
08/29/06

[ThisGuyIKnow]

You just copied and pasted the list of grants listed on the AFP site which does not attribute what the grant projects were only the organizations that received the grants.

Complain about Earmarks all you like, list legitimate earmarks, but until you have accurate data, you should leave ACORN out of the discussion. I think it’s in this countries best interest to create an even playing field for all Americans. If you’re wealthy in this country it is because the system works for you and you owe the system.

Do you also appose government grants for scientific research or education grants that help people afford higher education?

Like I said if you want to bring up Earmarks fine, but you brought ACORN into it to try to spin it into an attack on Obama, sorry, no dice.

If you don’t like earmarks call your congressmen. It’s a much more complex issue than you seem to admit to.