Jeff Flake: “I got a kick out of a recent warning made by the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He cautioned Members…”

“I got a kick out of a recent warning made by the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He cautioned Members that if congressional negotiators were forced to make additional cuts in this year's spending bills, that he just might do away with all earmarks in the bill. Well, that may pass for a threat here in Washington, but taxpayers all over the country are applauding. Despite the perception that many in Congress seem to have that taxpayers are eagerly awaiting the completion of appropriation bills to see if their earmarks ended up in the bill for their hometown, taxpayers, whether they're Republicans or Democrats, are applauding. They think that earmarks are a waste of money. Chairman Obey has said on many occasions that if it were up to him, he would do away with earmarks altogether; they are a waste of his time and his committee's resources. I couldn't agree more. In fact, I can't think of a better Christmas present to Chairman Obey than releasing him from the stress and hassle of having to deal with our earmarks. I'm sure he would be grateful, and our constituents would be grateful even more.”