Earmarks should be treated like dessert..

[SoCalDem]

Every year there is a budget...and every year, congress drags its feet, hems & haws, and never seems to "get around to it"..That's the problem we have NOW..they're still dealing with LAST YEAR'S budget..

P.Obama needs to see if there's any way congress can be "persuaded" to start working on single-issue legislation..

If it's an education bill, that's ALL that should be in it.. no additions for non-related issues..

Each senator/congressperson always wants to/needs to get something for their homestate/district (that's one reason WHY they are sent there), but there should be a spreadsheet online that shows the total dollar amount "available" for each legislator, and then the "earmarks' they plan to use it for.. a Wish-List of sorts.. People back home (and the rest of us) could then see exactly where, and to whom their loyalties lie.

and here's the best part.. NO earmarks until all their other "work" is done, passed and signed.

If they want the funding for those "projects" they must get busy and actually do the legislating on bills that are due and necessary every year..

When that work is all done (like dinner), and they have a clean plate...and it's BEFORE Sept 30, the earmarking could begin..

Each state's bloc of legislators could decide amongst themselves, exactly how that chunk of money should be/should be spent.

NO earmarks should be allowed to piggyback onto other legislation...PERIOD.

[msongs]

1. agreed..but this is how politicians avoid responsibility and get cover....

non-related items should not be added to a bill, period. congresspersons use this strategy to avoid being held accountable or to double deal. sad state of affairs.

and btw, no more "voice" votes on legislation that spends money, every hack needs to be held accountable for every vote regarding $$.

won't happen though because integrity demands full disclosure, and integrity is missing in this class of people...in too many cases.

Msongs