Earmarks - Necessary or Pure Pork?

Much attention has been brought lately to the spending of Congress in what we know as "earmarks"; but what exactly are earmarks, and what role do they play in our government?

Earmarks can be defined as "spending that is allocated to a specific project or entity that is outside of the normal yearly Congressional Budget ". Quite often, earmarks are designated to those who have supported a candidate in order to receive these federal funds. It's the "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" mentality in these instances, although many times the funds can also be allocated to valid government spending, such as highways, public works, etc.

So are they necessary? Are they even ethical to use in the governing of our nation? In this author's opinion, there is a place for earmarks, but the current use of them has been significantly abused, to the point of absurdity.

First, let us review the risks. Earmarks are consistently used to pay back those who were the greatest supporters of an elected politician. While most would agree that fundamentally, our political leaders are accountable to the people, the process of providing funds for a specific group or individual gives them significant power over government legislation. In the end then, the general public is cheated while the "representative" merely represents those who are owed the payback.

Also, because of the unique role of government in its ability to issue currency, little restraint is used when determining the size of these earmarks and how often they are introduced into legislative bills. While the term "budget" is frequently bandied about in press releases given by our congressional and administrative leaders, their actions truly demonstrate what little regard they have for spending within our means.

And again, the types of politics frequently used today tend to elect those who make the biggest promises to their constituents. These promises are not based in fighting for sound legislation that will promote and preserve our liberties, but rather their value lies in how much money one can coax from the public treasury, or in more demonstrative terms, from the prosperity of the American people.

When our founding father's penned the phrase, in The Preamble of the Constitution, "To promote the general welfare", they meant that whenever the government provides for the people, it must be beneficial for and apply to all the people, and not just a select group. In light of that statement earmarks could be useful, when, for example they are used for interstate highway improvements or maintenance. Let's say a bridge in Alabama needs to be replaced, and in order to get the votes needed, funds are allocated for needed improvements to freeways in Texas and Oregon. All Americans would benefit from these projects because goods can be shipped on these roads, transportation and safety are improved, etc. The money allocated would be used in the public realm, and not diverted to a private entity. This is a very simple example of where an earmark could be useful, but I hope the point is clear.

I know arguments are constantly being made for and against earmarks, so here is a recommended litmus test on whether an earmark is appropriate or not. Does the earmark give an unfair advantage of one organization, business, or person over another? Does it transfer legislative power and representation away from the governed and concentrate it into a smaller group? Does it compromise the sacred trust that we the people have in our elected leaders, and thereby calling into question their integrity? Does the allocated money fall into the public realm of spending and not fall into the private sector? If the earmark rises above all of these situations, I would argue that it could be appropriate to be used in the give and take that is our political system.

Hopefully, we will educate ourselves sufficiently so we can see which of those running for political office will stay true to the principles that we hold dear, and then have the courage and integrity to keep the sacred trust of those who put them into office by wisely using the resources of our citizens through the vehicle of government for the good of all Americans!

--Scott Aaron