A few observations on a recent article in the Norwich Bulletin, in which Sean Sullivan’s campaign suggests that Joe Courtney should reveal all his earmark requests, not only those that were successful, as current rules require.
First, as a practical matter, this issue is a non-starter at the Congressional level. Earmarks are only bad when the other guy gets them, not when you do. Sean’s campaign is not going to score points demanding disclosure of the earmarks Joe didn’t get, and every time he raises the issue Joe will remind the voters of the earmark that won him an award:
The watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste cited Courtney in its 2008 Congressional Pig Book Summary, noting, among other items, $588 million in advance funding to increase production of Virginia-class submarines at Electric Boat, calling it pork.
It may be pork, but to the people of the 2nd that’s mighty good eating. In fact, only a few days ago Sullivan’s campaign was attacking Joe for not getting a submarine earmark before he was even elected.
This is one of those issues that just doesn’t work.
A few other things about this article deserve comment. First, there’s this:
Cynthia Maynard of Norwich said she appreciates Courtney’s view on holding himself accountable, though she would prefer full disclosure.
“I just think the process should be more open,” she said.
There are lots of people in the 2nd District. Why was Cynthia Maynard, whoever she is, singled out to give a comment on this issue? Unfortunately, Google does not help on this. Is Ms. Maynard an expert? Why is her opinion important? We are not told. One might suspect, after the Nash McCabe episode on ABC, that this woman was sought out by (or provided to) the reporter to voice a Republican friendly opinion. (In this context of course, Republicans are rarely truly in favor of disclosure of anything.)
Finally, there’s this:
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is a strident critic of the earmark process and does not request them.
This is a case in which the literal truth leaves much unsaid. McCain does criticize earmarks (which by the way have a negligible impact on the budget) and he does not request them. He often criticizes earmarks obtained by others in Congress. Unless, that is, those members of Congress are from his own state of Arizona, in which case he falls silent. That, my friends, if having your cake and eating it too. Finally, of course, there are earmarks and there are earmark equivalents. Who’s the biggest friend to lobbyists of all the presidential candidates? Look at their staffs. It’s McCain hands down. What do lobbyists do? They get earmarks, often for far more unsavory projects than the pork sought be members of Congress. If you think that lobbyists are uncomfortable with the prospect of a McCain presidency, ask yourself why they are managing his campaign, and even running their lobbyist operations from the front seat of the straight talk express. What’s worse, funneling money to your home district, or slipping a provision into legislation that benefits a favored lobbyist?
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