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Analysis: When Members Change Their Tune
Typically, a Member of Congress who has campaigned against earmarks will stick with that position, but a few things can cause a rare change of heart: An example of the last possibility was reported by Colorado Public Radio: …opening the door to earmarks is a change for Boebert who, in 2021 and 2022, wrote op-eds… Continue reading Analysis: When Members Change Their Tune
News: Members of Congress Accepting Earmark Applications Now
Every Congressional Office will have a slightly different set of deadlines, often a week or two before the Appropriations Committee deadlines. The Cincinnati Business Courier reports on March 7, 2023 that Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH-1) is now receiving requests through his Congressional Website. The deadlines for requests is 5pm EST on Friday, March 17, 2023.… Continue reading News: Members of Congress Accepting Earmark Applications Now
News: Senate Offices Now Accepting Applications for Earmarks
Community College Daily reports: The deadline to submit requests differs from office to office but is generally sometime between March 3 and March 17. The deadline for a specific office can be found on the senator’s official Senate website (the URL will contain senate.gov). Not all senators will be accepting CDS requests, and submitting a… Continue reading News: Senate Offices Now Accepting Applications for Earmarks
Analysis: An Argument Against Earmarks from the Left
Just as the support for earmarks is often bipartisan, the opposition can also be bipartisan. While those on the right often oppose earmarks for promoting wasteful spending or higher levels of spending, those on the left argue that earmarks can divert funding from criteria-based grant programs. See this example from the environmental group National Resources… Continue reading Analysis: An Argument Against Earmarks from the Left
News: Earmark Example: Emergency Center Upgrades
Rhode Island NBC Affiliate WJAR reports on an earmark to upgrade the state’s emergency management center: CRANSTON. R.I. (WJAR) — Rhode Island’s Emergency Management Agency is receiving more than $1 million in state and federal funds to improve the state’s emergency management headquarters. Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed presented the agency with a check for $525,000… Continue reading News: Earmark Example: Emergency Center Upgrades
News: Pasadena City College Receives $500,000 Earmark
From Pasadena Now: Pasadena City College announced Tuesday it will expand services for students who are also parents after receiving a $500,000 award from Representative Judy Chu (CA-28) and the U.S. Department of Education. PCC’s Family Resource Center was named as the beneficiary of a Community Project Funding Grant in the omnibus spending bill signed into law by President… Continue reading News: Pasadena City College Receives $500,000 Earmark
News: Preview of Changes to House Earmark Process
Politico reports on changes coming to House Earmarks: The chamber’s new majority plans to limit the types of projects that are eligible for guaranteed cash. For instance, they would prevent lawmakers from locking in funding for items like city parks and county museums — things that might brandish a member’s name. Lawmakers would still be… Continue reading News: Preview of Changes to House Earmark Process
Analysis: Average Earmark Size by Party
An article in the Minnesota Post contains this analysis: Brookings Institution issued a recent study of the earmarks sought in Congress in 2021, the first year they were reinstated after the 10-year ban. It found that only about half of the GOP members of Congress requested earmarks that year – a number that has increased… Continue reading Analysis: Average Earmark Size by Party
Analysis: Does Canceling an Earmark Cut Spending?
This ABC news story illustrates a common argument against earmarks: Lawmakers on Capitol Hill look to cut spending amid thousands of omnibus earmark projects https://abcnews4.com/news/nation-world/lawmakers-on-capitol-hill-look-to-cut-spending-amid-thousands-of-omnibus-earmark-projects-earmark-projects-directed-by-members-of-congress-federal-tax-dollars What it gets right: What it gets wrong:
Analysis: Earmarks Not Swaying Votes (So Far)
One of the justifications for bringing back earmarks was to create incentives for members of both parties to vote for major bills by including projects that had been sponsored by individual members to directly benefit their Congressional District or State. Thus far, that has not been the case, per reporting from Stars and Stripes: House… Continue reading Analysis: Earmarks Not Swaying Votes (So Far)