The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Marketplace
    • Autos
    • Jobs
    • Real Estate
    • Classifieds
    • Shopping
    • Dining Out
    • Education
    • TWT Store
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • Security

    Obama said to want revised Afghan options

  • Politics

    Bush warns of threats to freedom, economic growth

  • National

    Fort Hood shooting suspect charged with murder

  • Politics

    Obama has fences to mend on Japan trip

  • Business

    Obama calls for jobs forum in December

  • National

    HOLMES: Miscalculating engagement

  • National

    NORRIS: The Senate and the START treaty

Thursday, February 16, 2006

House balks at reforms on pork

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos

More Stories

  • Obama begins delicate mission to Japan
  • 'Balloon boy' parents set to plead guilty
  • Spitzer declines to blame politics for downfall
  • Bishop, Kennedy spar over abortion

By

The push to end earmarks, which critics call pork-barrel spending, is bogged down in the House, thanks to a strong defense of the practice from top Republicans.

Rep. Jerry Lewis, California Republican and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, used for missile attacks on terrorist lairs, is a shining example of the best of earmarks.

He said the Predator proved its success in Bosnia after he stuck an earmark into a spending bill in the mid-1990s, long before the war on terror.

"We pushed funding by way of an earmark that moved [research and development] way ahead -- two, three years ahead," Mr. Lewis said. "There's little doubt Predator would never have been in Bosnia if we hadn't done that."

Other leaders defend the practice by saying it's how they are judged at home.

"The Buffalo News, which is my hometown newspaper, still believes I ought to bring home the bacon," said Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds of New York, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Earmark opponents have noticed the return fire.

"The empire is striking back," said Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican and sponsor of a bill to rein in earmarks. He said Mr. Lewis tried to intimidate his bill's supporters by issuing a list of earmarks that each had requested.

Those who want to reduce or eliminate earmarks say they are bracing for a long fight. They hoped for quick action on reform in January after the guilty pleas of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, California Republican, and lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

"It mirrors the attention span of the American public," said David Williams, vice president for policy at Citizens Against Government Waste. "It's going to take awhile. You still have so many people on both sides of the aisle who fundamentally do not want earmark reform."

123Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Commenting is disabled for this entry.
If you feel there is still something worth mentioning about this entry please contact the author or the site admin.

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
  2. EXCLUSIVE: Warner: Obama misplayed health care debate
  3. D.C. sniper executed in Virginia
  4. Airport rules changed after Ron Paul aide detained
  5. PRUDEN: Fatal reluctance to see evil
More Top Stories »
  1. Families meet as sniper's execution nears
  2. Michigan farm expert opens Marijuana U.
  3. EXCLUSIVE: Fort Hood suspect contacted Muslim extremists
  4. Houston sheriffs round up thousands of illegals
  5. Tax penalties and prison

Most Shared

  1. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
  2. Houston sheriffs round up thousands of illegals
  3. EXCLUSIVE: Fort Hood suspect contacted Muslim extremists
  4. Tax penalties and prison
  5. EDITORIAL: When the shooter becomes the victim
More Top Stories »
  1. Jordanian sees Jerusalem as a powder keg
  2. EDITORIAL: End Clinton-era military base gun ban
  3. Obama's union drive stumbles in N.H.
  4. Employers offer pet health care as perk
  5. E pluribus diversity?

Most Commented

  1. Houston sheriffs round up thousands of illegals
  2. EXCLUSIVE: Fort Hood suspect contacted Muslim extremists
  3. DeMint tries to ban 'permanent politicians'
  4. Obama: 'No faith justifies' Fort Hood attack
  5. Kennedy's disability plan could snag health bill
More Top Stories »
  1. D.C. sniper executed in Virginia
  2. Airport rules changed after Ron Paul aide detained
  3. EXCLUSIVE: GOPer Cao: Health vote may end career
  4. Dobbs leaves CNN before contract ends
  5. EDITORIAL: End Clinton-era military base gun ban

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Blogs & Columns

  • POTUS Notes

    New Dem talking point on Obama approval doesn't wash

  • The Back Story

    12 arrested at Pelosi's office

  • Belief Blog

    New Vatican constitution released

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Redskins 360

    Nolan prefers chess to coaching

  • Tara's Two Cents

    On their way to summer vacation..

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.