Politicos divide over earmarks

Debate over failure of an amendment to place a moratorium on earmarks

Peter Marcus, DDN Staff Writer

Friday, March 19, 2010

Political sides are divided over the failure of an amendment in Congress that would have placed a one-year moratorium on earmarks.

The issue split the Republican Party, with conservatives pushing for the proposal spearheaded by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. Twenty-five of 41 Republicans voted Tuesday for the proposal, which would have placed the one-year moratorium on earmarks.

The majority of Democrats, however, along with 25 Republicans, voted against the amendment.

U.S. Senate candidate Jane Norton yesterday lashed out at her potential Democratic opponent, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, for having voted against the amendment. But she also attacked those in her own party who voted against the proposal.

“It’s questionable which is more insulting: Senator Bennet’s hypocrisy on earmark reform or the fact that Republicans joined him to help kill this commonsense measure,” said Norton.

She is referring to Bennet’s “Plan for Washington Reform,” which includes banning earmarks for private companies and more transparency in the earmarks process. Bennet was appointed by Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter to fill the seat left by Sen. Ken Salazar, now Interior Secretary Salazar.

“The appointed senator has talked a lot lately about reforming the Senate, but when the rubber hit the road, he once again sides with Washington special interests,” said Norton.

Bennet’s campaign, however, defended the senator’s decision, arguing that DeMint’s proposal would not have actually saved money. Craig Hughes, spokesman for the Bennet campaign, said it is important for senators like Bennet to be able to fund projects for their respective states.

“The amendment offered by Sen. DeMint would not have saved one single penny within the federal budget. It would’ve given Washington bureaucrats the ability to pick and choose what projects to fund,” said Hughes. “Michael knows the needs of his state and he’s proven that he can successfully advocate for those needs.”

Bennet staffers point to several projects he worked to fund for Colorado, including $300,000 for the Weld County Sheriff’s Department to build a new crime lab serving northern Colorado; $5 million for work on the Arkansas Conduit; $700,000 for a new primary health clinic in La Plata County; $1 million for Colorado National Guard programs and services; and $550,000 to fund anti-meth projects in Colorado.

“The appropriations process certainly needs to be reformed, but it has worked for Colorado and can work even better if Michael’s reform proposals are adopted,” said Hughes.

But Norton Ń who is challenging Republican Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, a primary candidate heavily backed by conservative groups and who finished just about dead even with Norton at the straw polls on Tuesday night Ń sided with conservatives in showing frustration over the vote for DeMint’s proposal.

Norton pointed out that she has signed the “No Earmarks Pledge,” a pledge by candidates not to seek or support earmarks. The pledge is sponsored by the conservative Americans for Prosperity group.

“This vote clearly demonstrates just how broken Washington is,” said Norton. “Ending earmarks would be a quick and easy first step to stem special interest influence in the political process. Republicans need to start acting like Republicans when it comes to reforming Washington and returning to fiscal conservatism.”

* Sponsored Links *