"…the Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote." GW Bush, State of the Union Address, January 28,2008
Those of us opposed to earmarks, or as it used to be known, pork barrel spending, got a partial victory tonight. President Bush will issue an executive order for department heads to ignore earmarks that are air dropped into conference bills issued from Congress. Only those earmarks that have been specifically voted on will be allowed. The order does not apply to the latest spending frenzy that Congress issued, but a half a loaf is better than none.
The people's trust in their Government is undermined by congressional earmarks — special interest projects that are often snuck in at the last minute, without discussion or debate. Last year, I asked you to voluntarily cut the number and cost of earmarks in half. I also asked you to stop slipping earmarks into committee reports that never even come to a vote. Unfortunately, neither goal was met. So this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I will send it back to you with my veto. And tomorrow, I will issue an Executive Order that directs Federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by the Congress. If these items are truly worth funding, the Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote.
As are all executive orders, this is binding on future administrations unless and until the order is replaced, changed or discarded. But the sitting President must do so by issuing another order. Bush just blocked a lot of future bad behavior by Congress with the stroke of a pen. It is a lot better than what was in place up until now. Not perfect, but a darn good start.
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You don’t have to post this Giaus but you have 2007 (not 2008) in the date stamp for the State of the Union quote.
Thank you for pointing that out.
Absolutely one of the highlights of my evening was this line!
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I would have had a lot more faith in this veto had he enacted 6 years ago…. Alas, better late (& politically motivated) than never…
Too little, too late. Bush’s strategy throughout his terms has been to approve earmarks in order to buy loyalty from the Republican members of Congress. This new focus of his is a pathetic attempt to restore the reputation Republicans *used* to have for fiscal responsibility. Unfortunately everyone seems to be wise to it. History is going to remember him as having squandered the surplus and destroying the Republican party. Please let this year go quickly so we can get an adult in the White House.
But anything in a spending bill that gets to Bush’s desk has been voted on by the congress. And any spending bill that gets passed by both houses and then signed by the president is the law. Bush has just threatened to issue an executive order that “directs Federal agencies to ignore” the law.
We call that ruling by decree when Hugo Chavez does it. How is it different when George Bush does the same thing?
It Bush decides that the bill he gets has too much pork in it and vetos it, more power to him. Where was his concern over federal spending these last 7 years? But he doesn’t have line item veto power and he swore to uphold the laws of this country. He can’t have it both ways.
a bold move which will not take effect until after he’s left office… yet more unfinished business from our first CEO President
Wrong, iaint. What he’s issuing the order on is for earmarks that are inserted into the bill but not voted up or down in Cogress. This is something the Congressional council has said is unconstitutional and could be the subject of an executive order.
Yes, hypocrisy is always fun, isn’t it?
As long as corrupt Republicans were making thousands of earmarks for their buddies, it was fine. No vetoes. No executive orders. Just spend our dollars on boondoggle interstate exits that just happen to make some Republican Congesscriter or his owner rich. Nary a whisper from Bush.
As soon as Democrats are in control, earmarks are BAAAAAD! Typical right-wing crap. IOKIYAR – It’s OK If You’re A Republican. No credit for cutting earmarks by a third this year? Of course not. Republicans always want Democrats to do the dirty work of cleaning up their mistakes – while whining that we’re not doing it right.
BTW – who invented this little thing of inserting earmarks into bills that have never seen the light of day? Why the Republican Leaders who controlled Congress from 1995 through 2006. Prior to Newt and Tom and their crooked crowd, earmarks WERE voted on.
But Republicans don’t believe silly things like the Law or the Constitution or even logical consistency apply to them. They just corrupt whatever they touch while stealing us blind.
I’m so looking forward to 1/20/2009 – the end of an error.
I am against earmarks and pork barrel spending regardless of party involved. You should be, too.