Watchdog Slams Proposal to Resurrect Earmarks

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) criticized Congress for attempting to bring back earmarks. Punchbowl News reported today that Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Ct.) signaled their intention to bring back this crony spending tactic.

TPA President David Williams slammed this proposal, noting, “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. Simply put, earmarks are the closest thing to a legal bribe that exists in Washington. Some of the most egregious examples of earmarks include: $50 million 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. When earmarks are allowed, corruption and convictions soon follow.”

“The timing of this announcement is particularly bad as Congress is poised to pass a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill and the congressional pigs will surely belly up to the trough. 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 must quit reckless spending cold turkey, not double down on taxpayer turkeys.”

Williams concluded: “Bringing back earmarks at a time of trillion dollar deficits and the debt surpassing $27 trillion is stupid and fiscally reckless.” 

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Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a rapid response non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.