DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Anti-Earmark Bachmann Open To Earmark 'Redefinition' For Her District

**Wmshyrga** · 11-17-2010, 05:46 PM

Banning earmarks is a purely symbolic gesture that has virtually no effect on actual budgeting. The money from which earmarks are funded is generally already approved as parts of the bills in which they reside. The earmark generally just attaches some project specificity to a small prtion of the allocated budget dollars, and allows a lawmaker to show his constituents that he had a hand in making sure local projects weren't forgotten on the national stage.

To make earmark elimination part of a deficit-reduction conversation is about as effective as urging lawmakers to car-pool when in DC.

11-17-2010, 05:46 PM	#3
Wmshyrga Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 494 Senior Member	Banning earmarks is a purely symbolic gesture that has virtually no effect on actual budgeting. The money from which earmarks are funded is generally already approved as parts of the bills in which they reside. The earmark generally just attaches some project specificity to a small prtion of the allocated budget dollars, and allows a lawmaker to show his constituents that he had a hand in making sure local projects weren't forgotten on the national stage. To make earmark elimination part of a deficit-reduction conversation is about as effective as urging lawmakers to car-pool when in DC.
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