My Political Raves

Bush Tells Agencies to Ignore Earmarks

January 29,2008
President Bush today issued an executive order requiring agencies to ignore those authorization bill earmarks that failed to achieve open debate by Congress. The executive order requests agencies not obligate or expend funds by any non-statuatory method, including committee reports, congressional documents and communications from or on behalf of lawmakers.

According to Bush, "The people's trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks, special interest projects snuck in at the last minute without discussion or debate." Bush went on to comment, "If these items are truly worth funding, Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote." President Bush has sought accountability with the taxpayers money since taking the office seven years ago. Determined not to be worn down my the political machine and governmental ineptness in his final year, Bush commented at the State of the Union address, "Last year, I asked you to voluntarily cut the number of earmarks in half, and I also asked you to stop slipping earmarks into committee reports that never come to a vote. Unfortunately, neither goal was met. So this time, if you send me an appropriation bill that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I will send it back to you with my veto." According to the OMB (Office of Management and Budget), the fiscal 2008 omnibus spending bill included more than 11,000 earmarks estimated at more than $16.8 billion (source: Earmarks.OMB.gov).

While Bush has not been able to break the political culture of back room politics, special interest influence, pork barrel stipends and the process which rewards politicians whom maximize uncontrolled and under the radar spending, he has challenged the culture and elevated awareness in the public arena. Perhaps if the next President continues this push, the cycle can be broken and accountability with the people's money can be restored.

Keywords: fiscal accountability, pork barrel spending