John Campbell: “we did fight hard for this transparency, and I am glad we have this transparency. But the reason we have it is not…”

“we did fight hard for this transparency, and I am glad we have this transparency. But the reason we have it is not simply to rubber-stamp every earmark that the Chairs of committees decide in their judgment to put in. Let me quote again the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Mr. Obey, on June 13, 2007. He said, ``The reason I hate earmarks is because they suck everybody in. They suck them into the idea that we have to be ATM machines for our districts.'' Mr. Chairman, I don't think we want to be ATM machines for our districts. This amendment which has been suggested by Mr. Obey, I don't believe he or certainly I necessarily think that all 148 of these are bad. However, if the chairman of the Appropriations Committee believes as he said, ``I hate the earmarking process, I absolutely detest it,'' then maybe we should start to reform it. This is a way to reform it. This is a way to change it. Let's just take them all out for now, and let's talk about a way that perhaps something can be done in a way in which we are not ATM machines for our districts. By the way, by doing that, we will save the taxpayers $33.7 million, which I would imagine they will be able to use in their pockets in their districts as they want to and I would argue in a better, more effective way than we will, even though we represent them. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.”