McCain loses earmarks battle

The hard-earned stimulus package is founded on the pledge over the policy of transparency, no earmarks through line by line review, which is the most effective way to turn deficit into surplus, moreover, to fight the vested interests, the top priority need to be fight against the same old failed earmarks, I think.
Mr.Obama should not give in to the temptation to play by the establishment's rules. He's obligated to push hard for change; that's what voters elected him to do.

When you add up all the earmarks according to the tax payer watchdogs they come to about 7 billion dollars and 40% is from Republicans. Given that the budget is $410 Billion dollars, that's 1.7 % of the budget. This budget with 98.3% not earmarked must pass so government can operate. All this fuss and stonewalling and posturing by the Republicans to show that they all of a sudden found fiscal responsibility is laughable.
If there are really and truly 9,000 earmarks I don't see how Obama could have evaluated them to be meaningful. However, don't anyone use that excuse next year. These earmarks were developed by both parties under an inept presidency with a Good'ol boy mentality. Good riddance to them. Now let's make the 2010 budget earmark free.

So 40% of the earmarks were written in by Republicans and just about 40% of the Senators are Republican? Help me understand how they can rag on Obama over "pork" when they seem equally carnivorous?

Just asking. As long as there is parity, and as long as the funds are roughly proportional to population in each state, why don't we just agree that 1% can be used for "Senator's discretion" and then judge them by the quality and good sense of the choices they make. Oh, and that it does not benefit them.

It doesn't matter whether it is Dems or Repubs who inserted the earmarks. It is a pathetic PROCESS and it needs to be changed. We need major reform in this area (a complete overhaul). Each and every request should be discussed, debated and cost justified. The way it is now, earmarks are slipped in, flying under the radar. Great way to do business huh... if no one notices, I get bucks for my project. If it can't stand up to scrutiny, it shouldn't be approved. Period.
The system is pathetic, and every one who has an earmark in this Bill should be ashamed. ESPECIALLY those tied to the PMA scandal. The FBI shuts 'em down but their earmarks are going to be approved! Unreal.
Maybe President Obama could show some leadership (and backbone) and at the very least demand that anything tied to PMA be removed from the Bill.

So much for change.

There is no defense of earmarks. The weakest justification for excusing them is to say they're only a teensy-weensy itsy-bitsy fraction or percentage of this, that, or the other. Let's make the 2009 budget earmark free.