MD Congressional Members Rank High in 'Pig Book'
Members of Maryland's Congressional Delegation have excelled in their tax-and-spending ways by earning high rankings in the Citizens Against Government Waste 'Pig Book', which measures the number and amounts of earmarks each member introduced.
Rep. Steny Hoyer, representing Maryland's 5th district, ranks 5 out of 435 members of Congress by introducing 98 earmark projects for a total of $149 million! Congressman C. A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger, Democrat representing the 2nd District, ranks 11th by introducing 40 earmarks for $105 million, while Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings, representing the 7th, came in 16th by introducing 39 earmarks for $92 million.
On the Senate side, Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski ranked 15th out of 50 senators by introducing 179 earmarks for $280 million dollars, while Sen. Ben Cardin ranked 26th by introducing 145 earmarks for a total of $236 million.
So, while the tax-and-spend delegation of Maryland are quick to blame the Bush administration for overspending on the Iraq war, they never mention their own, outrageously excessive spending, which is also forcing the United States to the verge of bankruptcy -- and dependency on Red China, Russia and Saudi Arabia to bail us out!
8 comments:
If we assume that there is no overlap between the numbers you mentioned (something I doubt) then the representatives you listed have asked for a grand total of $862 million dollars. While this is hardly small change, it's absurd to say that earmark spending is "forcing the United States to the verge of bankruptcy." It's simply not true. Congressional earmarks account for less than 1 percent of our economy. While the war in Iraq is costing us an estimated $3 trillion. It is clearly Bush & Co. who are pushing this country towards the edge, not democratic earmarks.
I would also like to ask: where was all the righteous indignation when the republicans controlled congress and turned the federal govt. into a piggy bank for their corporate buddies?
Marylanddonkey,
If you look at the list, you will notice that there are no Maryland Republicans. Does that mean that President Bush and some Republicans are not over spending, no!
The subject of the post was Maryland members of Congress and the fact they rank so highly in the number and amount of earmarks.
What you seem to be saying is since the earmarks of Maryland Democratic delegation are only a small percentage of the entire U.S. budget, it is no big deal.
My friend, I think it is.
Address the issue of the post and stop trying to justify the indefensible.
The reality is that one-party rule in Maryland has given our Democratic officials the sense and arrogance to tax and spend us into bankruptcy!
God, you're a moron, unfree state.
What does Maryland's "one party rule" at the STATE LEVEL have to do with CONGRESSIONAL SPENDING? Is there one party rule in Washington?
The answer, between 2000 and 2006, was yes. But it wasn't the Democratic Party who was in charge. I didn't hear a lot of complaining about deficits and bankruptcy then. What could possibly account for that? I can't imagine.
Lefty,
Why is it that when you can't win a debate on basic reason and logic that you always resort to name calling?
This is rhetorical question -- of course. I know the answer.
Vladimir Lenin schooled his Russian revolutionaries in using the name-calling technique, which they used to shout down and try and discredit their political opponents.
The point of the comparison is -- once again -- is that Maryland Democratic representatives ranked higher than most on pork projects they tacked on to spending bills for their individual districts.
Every appropriation in Congress is subject to debate. What you might consider a reasonable expenditure, others won't.
So, if you want to debate each pork project from all 435 U.S. Representatives, there is hardly enough time.
But if you want to acknowledge that when Maryland's Congressional Delegation is compared with other state's delegations that they rank very near the top, and that means they are tax and spending an already broke nation, then we have starting point for any serious discussion.
As it stands, you appear to not accept the original fact that our reps rank higher than most with pork projects and that this is a bad thing.
You seem to be saying, it might be a good thing. Therefore, you and I will just have to agree to disagree.
No, what I might be saying is that your comment about "one party rule" in the context of a discussion about congressional spending was completely inane. Note that this time I am not calling you inane, just your comment.
As to the subject of "pork," Maryland is going to rank higher because our delegation (at least the Democratic side of it) has a number of pretty high-level members. Steny Hoyer is Majority Leader, Chris Van Hollen is head of the DCCC, etc.
Leaders get more stuff. When the Republicans were in charge, the same was true. Once again, I will ask: where was the outrage from 2000-2006? The "nation" did not suddenly become "broke" in 2006, when Democrats took over -- it began happening under Republican President George W. Bush and the Republican Congresses of 2000-06, all of whom inherited a surplus and pissed it away quicker than you can say "capital gains tax cut." Democrats were in the minority, and got precisely NOTHING during those years. Put the blame where it belongs -- on the Republican Party.
And "pork" is such a drop in the bucket compared to the real insanity -- tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the rest of us, a war that is bleeding us dry, and deficit spending for the foreseable future. I don't hear much talk about that around here, though.
However, I do appreciate the sudden piety for fiscal responsibility now that your pigs are no longer able to feed at the trough. How do you stay so true to your principles?
Lefty,
Again, you try to hijack the original post to meet your needs.
In the post I was referring to the one-party rule in Maryland. You do realize that the vast majority of Maryland's Congressional Delegation are Democrats, right?
Well, in that context, I am saying that the one-party rule of Maryland ranks higher than many other much larger states in the amount of pork its reps ask for and receive.
I again note that none of the Republican members from Maryland made the list. Can you acknowledge that.
So, I am simply pointing out the reality that Maryland Democrats are big tax and spenders on both a local, state and federal way.
However, I already said to you in a previous posts that I am against any deficit spending whether it be Republican or Democrat.
Are you?
The earmark process has to be changed. We need more transparency when millions and billions are being spent. The Pork I will be bringing home is liberty, freedom, and lower tax bills. We need to stop the spending!
Mike Hargadon for Congress
7th District
www.HargadonForUSCongress.com
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