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Cooper files bill to reform earmarking process
To try to curb wasteful, pork barrel spending, U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper announced new legislation Tuesday to create an independent, bipartisan commission to recommend changes to the earmarking process.
Cooper (D-Nashville) said he is sponsoring the “Bipartisan Earmark Reform Commission Act of 2008” because the “American taxpayer can’t stand much more” federal spending on unworthy projects.
“While there are many larger federal fiscal issues, this is one they understand,” Cooper said of taxpayers. “And while $30 billion might not seem like much in Washington, it’s real money, and we need to be guarding it very carefully.”
In fiscal year 2006, $29 billion was spent on nearly 10,000 special projects, an all-time high according to Cooper’s office.
Cooper instituted his own one-year moratorium this year on earmarks. Cooper explained Tuesday that he had filed requests in the past because he didn’t want to disadvantage the Nashville area.
The legislation would create a bipartisan, independent commission to recommend changes to the earmarking process to bring about transparency, equity and fiscal responsibility.
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), one of the co-sponsors of the legislation, said an independent commission is needed for any real reform of the earmarking process to occur.
Kind said one situation he wants addressed is naming earmark projects for sitting members of Congress.
“I just think this sends the wrong message,” Kind said. “This is not our money. This is the Americans taxpayers’ money. These projects shouldn’t be named after a sitting member of congress.”
The commission would be required to report to Congress within six months.
In addition to Cooper, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Brentwood) has called for a moratorium on earmarks, calling the process “fatally corrupted.”
U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) have both voted for that moratorium, but plan on filing earmark requests.
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An election year stunt.If they truly wanted to stop earmarks put the bill on the floor & have every senator & representative vote it up or down & stand on their record.
Earmarks are small change. Start with the big bucks:1. Roll back all corporate welfare and tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy passes in the last few years.2. USA spends more on war and the military than the rest of the world combined. An insecure military deserter occupies the White House & decides he wants to be a "war president
NashvilleNeighbor, we agree Bush has been a disaster for this nation in almost every facet of governance. To address tv's post, Cooper doesn't need an 'election year stunt' to stay in office as he got about 70 plus percent of the vote 2 years ago. He has long been a budget hawk and regularly preaches fiscal responsibility. He is one of the few politicians in either party who appears to be completely honest and not a partisan hack. Cooper's predecessor in Congress, Bob Clement, is less budget-conscious when it comes to spending wisely. Remember the Clement Landport, currently a distribution center for dust?
If ANY of these lawmakers really wanted to curb wasteful or Unfair spending they would start by looking at their own perks. All Congressmen/women and Senators have made themselves "elitist" by their own rules. Social security is good for every one in the country... but not them. They have their own retirement system. They have their own health care deal. They don't just act elitist... they are... by their own choice. What's good enough for all us little people isn't good enough for them.
Rep. Jim Cooper is our best guy to count on for a number of important issues. Good going, J.C.!