Can we talk about earmarks?

[beachmom]

I apologize in advance that I am not that good at navigating Senator Kerry's Senate website, so I am asking for a bit of help here.

There has been a lot of talk in the presidential race about earmarks: how much money, whether they should be allowed, as well as transparency. I think this issue has legs, and is very attractive to many voters. And it WILL be an issue in Senator Kerry's re-election, because no doubt the Republicans will push the issue.

Given that, I have some questions which will help us going forward:

1. How much in terms of dollars of earmarks has Senator Kerry requested and received?

2. Is there a place on his website that, in the spirit of open government and transparency, one can find that info?

I have found one article on this, which we can discuss:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/the-next-generation-of-earmarkers-is-lining-up-2008-03-12.html

“The taxpayers can’t afford ,” said Jim Ogonowski, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel running against Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). “I personally think this is why we have a government that is way too big, way too corrupt, and too controlled by special interests.”


Ogonowski pledged not to request earmarks and called Kerry “one of the biggest spenders in the Senate.” He cited Kerry’s votes for earmarks, such as funding for a museum celebrating the Woodstock Music Festival.


David Wade, a Kerry spokesman, said the senator is proud of projects he helped fund through earmarks.


“The Republican campaigns will be a bridge to nowhere if they’re running to cut off money for police, kids and firefighters,” said Wade.

Now, I would like to put my viewpoint out there to clear the air:

I do not think earmarks are an intrinsic evil, and some projects that are earmarked are worthy. However, I am in favor of two things:

1. Limiting the dollar amount. Earmarks are OUT OF CONTROL, and I would remind Republicans that they became out of control under their control of the House and Senate. Having said that, I will be very disappointed if the Dems just continue the practice as it is. I think some limits need to be placed on earmarks. I am for government spending when it is worthy, but the Woodstock Festival museum should have been privately funded, not publicly. We have a war on, no universal healthcare, and an economy going into recession. Love the music, but that museum should have been privately funded. So, to conclude, Earmarks are not evil unless they are out of control in number and dollars like they are right now. Limit it.

2. Earmarks must be disclosed on the website of the elected official. Obama did it, so that means everyone else can, too. If the project sounds too embarrassing to put on their website, then the elected official shouldn't back it. It's that easy.

I know Kerry is one of the good guys in the Senate. But I think he should adhere to the two principles I have stated: don't go overboard and disclose. Thoughts, anyone?

[karynnj]

1. Kerry should answer this

It is disingenuous because you don't vote for each and every earmark - what he is using is that Kerry voted for the budget. The Woodstock earmark was put in by HRC and Schumer. Their reason was to bring tourism to the Catskill area. (I actually think it makes no sense - the festival was not even in Woodstock, but at a nearby farm - that reportedly is no longer a farm. Not to mention there was nothing there after it was over but a mess. The memorial is the music and the film.) At any rate, Kerry had nothing to do with that. I do think pushing Kerry to list and explain all of his is reasonable and given Wade's comment - I am guessing he will do so. I know Obama has his public. I think Kerry should follow suit here.

It is strange, as from all accounts in the Boston Globe book etc, he was attacked for NOT giving priority to bringing home the bacon. It is also not consistent with the image he has of being more fiscally conservative than many liberal Democrats. This article takes Ogonowski's word for Kerry being "one of the biggest spenders", but I never heard this from a more objective source. Not to mention, if it were true, it would mean he got lots of money for MA and as MA is not one of the states gets the most that must mean that Kennedy is getting very little - which is not true.

[beachmom]

2. I wish David Wade included your answer in his rebuttal. Unless

he wasn't given the whole quote but just a general statement on earmarks.

I thought it odd that Kerry would back something in another state; I think you have it right, that all he did was vote for the budget.

So, Ogo is a liar in addition to being a bad debater. Good to know.

[Mass]

3. It was a Coburn amendment. I'd like to know what the text of the Coburn amendment was.

It was an amendment replacing Woodstock for care for babies and mothers. Knowing the very anti-choice feeling of Coburn, it may be that the amendment was a way to bare abortion by some tortuous language.

This said, there was NO vote for this, only a vote to table the Coburn amendment, and when it passed, the funds were nixed by unanimous consent.

And Ogo's claim is weird given that one of the beef people in MA have against Kerry is that he does not bring enough pork home. I wonder if this claim is going to hurt him during his primary season.

[karynnj]

4. Thanks Mass -

I think the amendment would have killed the budget - it was not just Woodstock, but ALL earmarks until there was healthcare for all kids (likely chosen to allow Republicans to attack Democrats - exactly as Ogo did.

From the Senate record:
SA 3358. Mr. COBURN (for himself and Mr. Burr) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 3043, making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

Sec. __. (a) This section may be cited as the ``Children's Health Care First Act of 2007''.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any congressionally directed spending item, as defined by Sec. 521 of Public Law 110-81, until the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services certifies that all children in the U.S. under the age of 18 years are insured by a private or public health insurance plan.
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110th Congress - 1st Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

Vote Summary

Question: On the Motion to Table (Motion To Table Coburn Amdt. No. 3358 )
Vote Number: 384 Vote Date: October 23, 2007, 12:01 PM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Motion to Table Agreed to
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 3358 to S.Amdt. 3325 to H.R. 3043 (Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008)
Statement of Purpose: To require Congress to provide health care for all children in the U.S. before funding special interest pork projects.
Vote Counts: YEAs 68
NAYs 26
Not Voting 6
Here's the roll call:

rouped By Vote Position
YEAs ---68
Akaka (D-HI)
Alexander (R-TN)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Craig (R-ID)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester (D-MT)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
NAYs ---26
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feingold (D-WI)
Graham (R-SC)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Sessions (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)

Not Voting - 6
Biden (D-DE)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Kennedy (D-MA)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)