Obama bans earmarks from big economic package

[babylonsister]

One less weapon rethugs can use against Dems.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_WASTEFUL_SPENDING?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Obama bans earmarks from big economic package

By CHARLES BABINGTON
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Barack Obama says he will bar pork-barrel projects from the massive economic stimulus bill he wants Congress to pass.

Obama said Tuesday that his plan, expected to cost about $775 billion, will not allow lawmakers to insert pet projects, as they sometimes do on spending bills.

He told reporters at his transition office in Washington that his package will set a "new higher standard of accountability, transparency and oversight. We are going to ban all earmarks, the process by which individual members insert projects without review."

[aquart]

1. How? He doesn't have a line item veto.

[babylonsister]

4. Maybe if he says they're banned from the get-go, they will be.

I don't know. I imagine he'll have his people watching this whole stimulus package and how it's built, and what's in it before it reaches his desk for signature.

[bluestateguy]

6. He should

So all spending projects for Southern Republicans senators can be cancelled, as puinishment for the auto bailout stunts they pulled.

[DainBramaged]

10. HEAR HEAR

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[spanone]

2. that's c h a n g e

[Idealism]

3. If he can pull that off, I would be very impressed

[pinto]

5. I'd love to see a straightforward economic bill w/ out add ons.

And I suppose there's pressure being applied to get that done, whatever the specific nuts and bolts of the bill itself are.

It would be a good political message, as well.

[Joe Fields]

7. I too, would be impressed, if he can make it happen.

I just wish his economic recovery proposal was larger in scope. It barely covers what jobs have been lost in the last two years alone.

[ThomWV]

8. Someone want to tell me again how he's a Constitutional Scholar?

[RB TexLa]

9. So to kill the plan you just attach an earmark? Ok

[Joe Fields]

11. No, silly. Obama would just sign an executive order.

I hear it's all the rage.

[babylonsister]

12. The House just put forth a resolution that earmarks must be disclosed

in any bill. So, that could be the answer if it passes, and it should with Dems in the majority. We'll see, and I just caught that briefly. Don't know when it will be voted on.