Quote:
Originally Posted by aceventura3
Let's not let facts get in the way of a good story or empty political rhetoric. Please carry on.
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ace...posting a partisan editorial from a Republican colleague of McCain's in the Senate doesnt change the facts.
Here are some facts:
Palin lobbied for the earmark for the bridge to nowhere before she opposed it (after it was effectively dead already
), as governor, her state was ranked number one (per capita) in earmarks (receiving 10x the national average) and
as mayor, she hired a lobbyist to pursue earmarks, which is very rare for a city that size.....but that doesnt make her better or worse than Obama or Biden....but it also doesnt make her a "reformer" as she proclaims.
All the earmark talk is political theater. Earmarks represent an insignificant amount (1%) of the federal budget....which does make it difficult to understand how McCain's earmark reform rhetoric will contribute much to balancing the budget or paying for many of his proposals.
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BTW...McCain was
one of only 14 Senators who voted against last year's comprehensive ethics reform legislation, which included greater transparency in earmarks. (see:
CRS summary of the bill, Subtitle B - Earmark Reform)
Not that we dont need more ethics/earmark/lobbying reform, but this bill was better than anything the Republicans proposed when in the majority.