OINK! Watchdog Slams Plan to Bring Back Pork-Barrel Earmarks

For Immediate Release
December 11, 2020
Contact: Grace Morgan
(202-855-4380)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is increasingly concerned about rumors from congressional leadership about the return of pork-barrel earmarks. Bringing back earmarks will put our nation on a road to crony governance and even more profligate spending.  Pork-barrel earmarks are projects that have not been requested by the particular agency and have circumvented established budgetary processes and procedures.

In response to reports about the return of earmarks, TPA President David Williams offered the following statement:

“Plainly and simply, earmarks are corrupt giveaways that unnecessarily burden American taxpayers. At their worst, earmarks have cost the American people more than $30 billion on an annual basis. Legislative votes should be won or lost on their merits, not on the basis of who can strong-arm the most money for pet projects in must-pass legislation. In others’ words, they are the closest thing to a legal bribe that exist in Washington. Some of the most egregious examples include: $50,000,000 for an indoor rain forest in Iowa; $500,000 for a teapot museum; and $100,000 for the Tiger Woods Foundation.  Earmarks have been the bribery currency of Congress for many years, as both parties used them to buy votes.  Former members of Congress including Randy ‘Duke’ Cunningham (R-Calif.) were sent to jail for accepting bribes to secure earmarks. Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff also spent time in jail in connection with earmarks promised to clients.”

“Congress’ reckless spending habits grow further out of control by the day. The last thing we need is to re-introduce earmarks to the equation. The 2010 moratorium stands as one of the few bright spots in government spending policy over the past decade. As former Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) put it, earmarks are the ‘gateway drug to a spending addiction.’ Our nation cannot afford to be any more addicted to this reckless habit than it already is.”

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