Same old song and dance..just new dancers

[Flatbutt1]

Now the Dems are saying things like... well the bar was set to high....well these things take time..



really IMHO there simply is no significant difference between the two parties

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070618/pl_nm/usa_congress_war_dc

[red-beard]

I don't know. I think they make the Republicans look like amatuers when it comes to Pork, etc. Personally, I'd like to go back to the days when the President could decide to "not spend the money".

[Joeaksa]

We told you guys this a long time ago. Wonder what the "faithful" will say about it now that they admit that they cannot get everything done that they promised that they would before the elections?

[legion]

Same thing as always Joe. They will change the subject and say: "At least it's not as bad as..."

[Seahawk]

For your advanced reading before the budget: (They ALL do it!!!)

A Spectator’s Guide to Earmark Debate Terminology

By David Clarke, CQ Staff

Technically, an earmark is something put on the ear of a farm animal to show who owns the livestock.

But on Capitol Hill these days, the term is derogatory, divisive and sometimes confusing. In legislative debate, no earmark is considered good, but some are considered especially bad.

Many of the rule changes being debated in an effort to bring greater “transparency” to the process by which lawmakers direct money are meant to overcome lawmakers’ reluctance to acknowledge responsibility for earmarks — until they are ready to claim credit for bringing federal money into their states or districts.

Here is an unofficial guide to the meaning of phrases tossed around during the partisan debate over earmarks:

Regular Earmarks

The old-fashioned, straightforward designation of funds through bill text or language in a committee report for a specific federal project, such as continued procurement of an obsolete weapons system; or for a local project, such as a road, community center or research program at a university.

Critics deride such directed funding as “pork-barrel spending” — but no member of Congress ever lost an election by bringing home federal funding.

Administration Earmarks

The White House is calling for a crackdown on earmarks. However, Democrats counter that the Bush administration also earmarks funding in its budget proposals and spending decisions.

For instance, House appropriators say a request by President Bush for $35 million for a chemical demilitarization project in Colorado is the equivalent of an earmark.

Airdropped Earmarks

This sounds like a military maneuver. The imagery is dramatic, but the tactic depends on timing, not gravity.

Much of last week’s debate involved Republican complaints about a Democratic plan to withhold House earmarks until fiscal 2008 spending bills have passed the House and gone to conference with the Senate. “Airdropping” earmarks would prevent critics from trying to delete the provisions, since conference reports on bills cannot be amended on the floor.

Hidden Earmarks

The fiscal 2007 omnibus funding law (PL 110-5 :simplePopup('displaylawcard.do?lawNumbe r=5&congress=110','billCard',680,430);> ) enacted earlier this year contained no apparent earmarks. Yet Republicans maintain that it effectively included earmarks because it would allow continued spending under previous multi-year funding designations.

An example is Iowa Republican Sen. Charles E. Grassley’s often-criticized $50 million earmark in the fiscal 2004 omnibus (PL 108-199 :simplePopup('displaylawcard.do?lawNumbe r=199&congress=108','billCard',680,430);> ) for a rainforest research project in his state.

Gateway Drug

In the view of some conservatives, one seemingly modest earmark in a one-year spending bill can lead to years of expensive outlays. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., is credited with first making an analogy often associated with marijuana use.

For example, after funds are earmarked for building a new research center, that facility will need government cash in later years for projects and operations.

Legislatively Directed Spending

During a June 12 news conference, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., offered her solution for clarifying the discussion of earmarks: “Why don’t we just leave this room today forgetting the word earmark? This is legislatively directed spending, as opposed to executive spending. In the absence of legislative-directed spending, you have appropriations bills that are totally dictated by the White House.”

Nice try. But the term earmark is unlikely to go away.

[legion]

Seahawk, sounds like the politicians are inventing terminology to intentionally confuse the debate. Who da thunk?

[stevepaa]

Weel, if they had gotten sufficient Dems elected the promises would have been kept. We just need more Dems elected. Next time.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by stevepaa
Weel, if they had gotten sufficient Dems elected the promises would have been kept. We just need more Dems elected. Next time.

Thanks... I needed a GOOD LAUGH for the day.

Keep drinking the cool-aid...

Both parties are corrupt and need to be replaced.

[stevepaa]

half kidding, half serious.

You can't get your promises accomplished without sufficient votes.

But I also dislike lopsided government.

The problem here is most of us from 60's don't trust the other side to do anything worthwhile or to follow through on what they said.

[Flatbutt1]

Originally posted by stevepaa
The problem here is most of us from 60's don't trust the other side to do anything worthwhile or to follow through on what they said.

Like we used to say then..."no matter who you vote for, the same liar gets elected..."

[widgeon13]

Campaign promises are empty rhetoric. They all just say what the voters want to hear in order to get the vote. Once elected the topics change completely.