The blind spot in politics
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1 comment [ View ]It was predictable, but still distressing. A huge majority of U.S. senators -- 71 to be precise -- voted against putting a one-year moratorium on earmarks.
Earmarks are the sleazy, gutter legislative practice where lawmakers, at the last minute, slip federal pork into bills to boost local and state projects. This past fiscal year, lawmakers pushed through 11,612 earmarks, at a cost to taxpayers of $17.2 billion.
Citizens for Government Waste honored the 71 senators who supported earmarks with its "Porkers of the Month" award. Sharing that dubious award with many of their colleagues were Utah's Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett.
Both of our senators were proud of their votes against the moratorium and their contributions to the $17.2 billion earmarks' tally. Bennett said, "Opposing earmarks is an attempt by some lawmakers to give the impression of fiscal responsibility when there is none. Eliminating earmarks will not reduce federal spending, and yet earmarks have become the scapegoat for the government's lack of fiscal discipline."
And you wondered why Congress' approval ratings are at an all-time low? Perhaps it's different if one occupies a seat in the U.S. Senate, but we have a lot of respect for $17.2 billion. When lawmakers are slipping more than 11,600 earmarks into the federal budget, something needs to be done.
Our opposition to the current earmarks practice is not an indictment of our two senators. They are both honest, effective legislators who have done much for the state and nation. And we understand that the Top of Utah benefits sometimes from earmarks. But the earmark situation is so abused and out of control that it cries out for reform. The public is disgusted at legislators dipping deeper into the earmark trough.
Putting a one-year moratorium on this obviously abused legislative practice would have been a healthy remedy toward fiscal discipline. We're disappointed that Hatch and Bennett can't see that.
Unfortunately, our senators seem to have acquired that blind spot that often affects those in politics. Despite being taught fundamental principles of right and wrong by our parents, grandparents and other role models, 71 U.S. senators convinced themselves $17 billion-plus in earmarks is just fine.
And it happens elsewhere. In our state Legislature, dozens of lawmakers think it's ethical to take free gifts from lobbyists who want something from them. Common sense shouts, THAT'S WRONG! But they still do it.
The U.S. Senate had a chance to do something good in putting the brakes on earmarks. It failed. We can hope that in a generation or two, we will elect lawmakers who will regard today's practices of earmarks and lobbyists' freebies as a distasteful element of the past.
I've been a life long Republican and even worked on Hatch's re-election several timees. But now it sure looks like we need to elect someone with MORE GUTS,AND COURAGE. To do the right and fair thing and stop this sort of crap from happening in our country. Vote 'em out and get someone that will do the best for ALL the country and not jsut their buddies.