First point to notice: this is a direct violation of one of his central campaign promises. Remember, some of his biggest schticks were getting out of Iraq, tax cuts for 95% of Americans, and eliminating earmarks. Bush handed him the first on a silver platter, his tax cut thing is an outright lie, and now he has made himself a double liar with this earmark thing.President Obama said today he would sign an "imperfect" $410 billion bill to fund the federal government through September, but hopes the bill will mark an end to the old way of doing business.
The bill has nearly 8,000 earmarks, which are pet projects inserted by lawmakers to benefit their states and districts. The practice peaked at twice that number a few years ago, Obama said, and played a part in corruption cases.
Among his proposals to clean up and open up the earmark process: All earmarks must be aired on members' websites and at public hearings, and money can be directed to private companies only after competitive bidding.
Obama said he has opposed eliminating all earmarks because "done right," they give lawmakers a chance to direct federal money to worthy projects. He added: "I also find it ironic that some of those who railed the loudest against this bill because of earmarks actually inserted earmarks of their own -- and will tout them in their own states and their own districts."
Second, is doing business as usual really the best way to usher in a new way of doing business? I look at it this way - for Obama to say that he'll accept this one last bill with earmarks in it is similar to a drug addict saying he'll take one last hit before quitting cold turkey. It's possible, yes, but extremely unlikely. We'll find out before too long, I'm sure - Congress will certainly test him, and I'd bet any amount of money it'll be sooner rather than later.
There's my two cents.
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