Earmarks Can't Be Swept Under the Rug
I love how Congress is paralyzed by the earmark crisis. Next week, Senator Jim DeMint will bravely offer a earmark moratorium amendment to the budget, much to the consternation of his GOP colleagues and Senate Democrats. Most members would prefer that the issue would just quietly go away, but DeMint's amendment will require an up or down vote. GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, an unabashed earmarker himself, hasn't even offered his support to DeMint.
In the House, the GOP leadership has been very vocal about demanding earmark reform, but because dozens of Republicans strongly support earmarks, the overall message is confusing. And that hypocrisy is making Pelosi and House Democrats mad as hell. Therefore, they may force a vote on the issue, which would call the bluff of those earmark-loving Republicans.
Any reasonable analysis of this debate would reveal that the anti-earmark forces are too strong to overcome. Therefore, the only smart move that a member can make is to unilaterally forgo earmarks. It's morally right and politically, it's a no-brainer.
UPDATE: The Wall Street Journal's Kimberley Strassel has the same idea. She writes:
Republicans have a choice. They can unite behind the feisty Mr. McCain, and take a position that is true to their small-government principles, popular with the public and a smart political move. Or they can hurt themselves, and possibly their nominee, by sticking with the lard.
