Earmarks

Earmarks are funds attached to bills in Congress by legislators. They get little or no debate or oversight. They have come under criticism because of wasteful projects such as a $230 million dollar bridge to an island with fifty people on it.

Norm Dicks has come under scrutiny for his use of earmarks. He used earmarks to push through some expensive boats that nobody wanted. He forced the navy to spend $4.5 million for a boat it didn’t want. He forced the navy and coast guard to spend $17.65 million to buy boats they didn’t ask for. None of these boats has been used as Congress intended. But the executives of the small company that built these boats gave Dicks $16,750 in campaign contributions. These executives have given similar campaign contributions to other legislators who’ve helped them this way. (Seattle Times, 10.15.2007)

You’d hope with this negative press and people losing faith in our government, Dicks would be open about what he’s funding. It is, in theory at least, the people’s money. Instead, Dicks, through his spokesman George Behan, has refused to release his list of earmarks. (Seattle Post Intelligencer 4.10.08)

Earmarks have been the subject of investigative reports including by Washington State newspapers and groups including Citizens Against Government Waste. Dicks has been singled out as being between the sixth and tenth highest granter of earmarks in the U.S. Congress in recent years. While this has included projects that have helped the District, there are often better ways the money can be spent. And there is no reason that they should be secret.

It’s about transparency. More than 80% of the citizens believe this country’s on the wrong path, and with good reason. With collapsing roads, lack of affordable health care, and businesses closing or moving out of the United States, the country is falling apart. You can look at the Washington Ferries as one local example. There has simply been no long term planning.

Governments have historically been victims of corruption and people filling their own pockets when they operate in secret. Secrecy is what’s created much of the debacle in Iraq, especially with untold billions of dollars going into the pockets of those in office and those close to those in office. If the sort of corruption taking place in Iraq is what we’re opposing, critics should be open and transparent in their own actions. Through earmarks, Congress is set up to line the pockets of themselves and those close to them. Even if this is not what is occurring through earmarks, this is the perception.

One of the first steps all representatives must take is building trust by open and accountable government.

Paul Richmond has long been an advocate of open government and an opponent of waste. His work as a reporter had him named “public enemy of big business” by one local paper. He also helped to defeat a $1.3 billion proposed mass transit system that would take away more mass transit than it created.

Help Paul Richmond get to Washington D.C. so he can become an even greater voice for openness and accountability. Your valuable contribution helps keep this campaign alive and active. Contributions to Paul Richmond's Campaign may be made through the website www.actblue.com/page/paulrichmond.

References:

The Favor Factory, Seattle Times Special Report

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/favorfactory/

$4.5 million for a boat that nobody wanted. Seattle Times 10.15.07

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003948586_favorfactory14m.html

State’s congressional delegation does its share of pleading for the pork, Seattle Post Intelligencer 4.10.08

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/358486_earmarks10.html

Murray, Dicks excel in ‘pork’ spending http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/357525_earmarkswash031.html, Seattle Post Intelligencer 4.02.08

Citizens Against Government Waste

http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=EarmarkRequests_2007_House

Norm Dicks, the Northwest’s Earmark King August 9, 2007

http://www.crosscut.com/military/6105/Norm+Dicks,+the+Northwest's+Earmark+King/

Paid for by Paul Richmond for Congress