In 2008, the Republican nominee, the one who claims to be against earmarks, requested approximately $6 million in earmarks–now that’s a lot pork to stuff the barrel with for someone who claims to not like it.
via Politico.
• $400,000: Alaska Invasive Species Program: Continues to comprehensively prevent, identify, and respond to the threat of invasive species on the Alaska environment.
• $494,900: Assessment of Recreational Halibut Harvest in Alaska: This is an ongoing effort to collect data on the recreational halibut fishery that is conducted by federal agencies though relying on the state for data.
• $2 million: Bering Sea Crab Research and Management: Researches Bering Sea crab productivity and sustainability as necessary to restore crab stocks.
• $3.2 million: Seal and Steller Sea Lion Biological Research: Funds monitoring of ice seal populations in Native villages, research on the species delineation and genetics of harbor seals to understand the declines in population and provide for population restoration, and continues research into Steller Sea Lion population decline.
Some of the largest porkers in the barrel are the bills that the Republican Congress passed in the name of National Security. That’s right! And you can start with the largest hog of them all Homeland Security! If you would listen to a Republican you would think that Homeland Security has kept us all safe. But to continue the Pork analogy–that is pure hogwash.
To listen to them, ordinary law enforcement is not enough to fight these Islamic radicals (and they tricked the American people into believing this so they could pass their pork). The truth is that every single terrorist plot that has been prevented since 9/11 was prevented through good old-fashioned police and intelligence work that was in place before 9/11. Nothing fancy. No star-wars technology required.
Furthermore if you go along with their claptrap, then you must believe that it is more likely for “islamic terrorists” to strike in Wyoming or Nebraska than in New York or Los Angeles. The Republicans devised a formula to take security money from high-risk (and mostly liberal) states like New York and California and give it to lower-risk (and mostly conservative) places like Wyoming and Nebraska. This was silly from a security standpoint—the only explanation was that the Republican Congress was using 9/11 as an excuse hand out pork sandwiches to their friends.
SOURCE: http://iflizwerequeen.com
Baracks Bills -
1. 2006 Transparency bill = expose corrupt lobby $ that lobbyist give to politicians so we the people can either impeach them or not re-elect them
2. TECH PLAN = 2007 = http://www.USAspending.gov = expose all government spending so the citzens can see where their tax money goes
3. 2008 = SUNSHINE bill = SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION = http://www.sunlightfoundation.com/ = http://www.sunshineweek.org/sunshineweek/candidates = EXPOSE future spending. This is acomplished as Barack and his newly elected cabinet point out to WE THE PEOPLE , negative porkbarrel spending so we the people can rally against a certain senator or congress person or committee to stop it before it goes up for vote or support it if it is good for we the people = honest government finally controlled by WE THE PEOPLE.
Who knows maybe one day in the future we won't need politicians as we the people stay involved in what is going on in all 3 branches of government and we use the computer to approve the direction of our country / government.
Barack will be holding weekly / monthly speeches, to WE THE PEOPLE, guiding them as to which negative earmark / porkbarrel spending should be stopped (removed from a future bill) by the people rallying together online before a bill with that earmark goes up for vote!
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Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
Obama has outlined an ambitious transparency plan that incorporates technology to "help connect government to its citizens and engage citizens in a democracy."
Among the proposals in Obama's plan to open government are: putting government data online in accessible formats; airing live webcasts of agency meetings; restoring scientific integrity; allowing people to track federal grants, contracts, earmarks and lobbyist contacts online; and allowing five days for public to review and comment on legislation online before its signed.
In an October 2007 speech, Obama pledged to "turn the page on a growing empire of classified information, and restore the balance we've lost between the necessarily secret and the necessity of openness in a democratic society by creating a new National Declassification Center."
Past is Prologue
One of Obama's most visible Senate actions on the open government front was his co-sponsorship of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2008 with the launch of USAspending.gov, a Web site that gives people access to information on government contracts, grants and other awards.
As an Illinois state senator, Obama co-sponsored the Verbatim Record Bill, requiring public agencies to video or audio record closed door meetings, The First Amendment Center reported, noting the law was the first of its kind enacted by any state.
Obama is the only remaining candidate to have signed the Reason Foundation's Oath of Presidential Transparency, and, according to The Washington Post he is the only leading candidate to have released his income tax returns.
"I was duped into placing that provision [aiding an Indian tribe who Abramoff was lobbying for] into legislation" - after of course a $100,000 trip to Scotland and a $30,000 campaign donation.
"I haven't done anything wrong."
"I have watched as the liberal establishment in Washington engaged in a coordinated smear campaign against me."
15 Sep 06 - Oh, by the way...I'm kinda guilty and will plead guilty to at least one criminal charge.
I f'in LOVE it!!!!
Of course, Congress has yet to do anything substantial when it comes to lobbying reform. The House passed a minimal band-aide measure on earmarks that applies only to the House and only until the end of the year. Senate bill 2349 is stalled in committee. So typical. Would you expect anything more of this lackluster Congress?!??!
Ready for a change?!?! Vote Democrat on 7 Nov 06.
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