CNN article: Like House colleagues, Senators keep Earmarks quiet

[TeamJordan23]

I wonder when the other Senate candidates will follow Obama and release their earmarks.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/29/senate.earmarks/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Like House colleagues, senators keep earmarks quiet
By Drew Griffin and Kathleen Johnston
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- When it comes to elected officials and earmarks, the policy seems to be the less said the better.

This time the cold shoulder is coming from the Senate, which, like members of the House of Representatives, don't want the public to know which pet projects they want taxpayers to fund.

Since Monday, CNN has called -- or tried to call -- all 100 senators, asking them if they would release their 2008 earmark requests. More often then not, calls were immediately sent to voice mail and never returned.

Only six senators gave us their requests and five said they made no earmark requests. Nineteen said they would not give us their requests and 70 did not return calls.

[BOSSHOG]

1. I guess I'm naive

but wouldn't a senator or congressman want those earmarks published since they would be designed to assist their constituents?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Not at this point.

The earmarks are far from final. They could be removed, reduced, increased, changed, etc. If you found your earmark got reduced or removed, you'd be a little upset. It's not quite the same perception as if you never got one in the first place. If I were a Congressman, I'd rather not have it published at this point, because the situation is far too fluid.

I would absolutely want my name on it in the final bill. The truth of the matter is though that they fight over taking credit for them anyhow, so it's really a moot point.

[BOSSHOG]

3. That makes more better sense. Thanks

But if such earmarks were finally approved then they'd hold a press conference in the largest city in the district surrounded by anyone who might benefit.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. Believe me - they already do that.

They sometimes even present those huge checks you get if you win the lottery, too.

[Solo_in_MD]

4. The ear marks are an embarrasment, insider pol crap at its worst, thanks Murtha

who had the lack of self control to meltdown over it in public and then no action was taken...some young turk Repuke is leading the charge on what should be a Dem core issue.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. Earmarks do a ton of great things.

Those earmarks provide an infusion of funding into areas that wouldn't see a nickel otherwise. Further, they're directed towards projects within the district that need funding, such as mental health care facilities and education programs. Congressmen better know what their district needs than a bureaucrat. Finally, being an insider has NOTHING to do with getting an earmark. I should know - I've gotten millions of dollars for non-profit organizations through the earmark process. Not a single one of them had any insider pull.