You know how when you squeeze a balloon it just pops out some place out? And then you squeeze it there and out pops a different bulge?
That’s what’s happening in earmark reform.
As you know, Republicans took a beating in November, in part because they had become hooked on earmarks, just like Democrats when they were in the majority.
That’s the balloon getting squeezed in one place.
So the out-going Republicans thought maybe they could slip in, say, 12,000 earmarks last December, when everyone was distracted by the holidays.
That’s the balloon popping out in another place.
But Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) called their hand and stymied the effort. That’s the squeeze again.
So recently, members and their staffs just started calling federal agency budget departments, asking them to continue funding previously approved earmarks as part of the Continuing Resolution bill funding the government.
That’s the balloon popping out in yet another place.
Now, one could argue that besides ignoring recent efforts to impose transparency, this tactic was a total abrogation of members’ constitutional duties, because spending bills must originate in the House of Representatives. By calling federal agencies and asking them to continue funding, members are, in essence, putting the administration (since it appoints the heads of the agencies) in charge of federal spending.
Say what you will about the outrageous number of earmarks Congress has passed over the years, and especially under Republican control, Congress still voted on those earmarks.
Well, the administration apparently isn’t willing to accept this transfer of power. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Rob Portman issued a memo last week providing the departments and agencies with a little “guidance.” Portman noted, “While the Administration welcomes input to help make informed decisions [that’s a polite reference to the phone calls], no oral or written communication concerning earmarks shall supersede statutory criteria, competitive awards, or merit-based decision-making, as set forth in Section II below.”
In other words, save your calls.
The balloon just got squeezed . . . again.