Goodlatte Says Earmarks Are Just Fairness For His District
By Jeff Mellott
HARRISONBURG - U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, defended himself Thursday as a fiscal conservative in spite of a watchdog group's recent study tagging him for supporting "pet projects" in this year's federal budget.
The study on the part of The Heritage Foundation looked at funding members of Congress tacked onto spending bills, otherwise known as earmarks. Although its list of earmarks is not complete, the conservative foundation reported Goodlatte was able to direct at least $1.8 million in spending that the group deemed not of "national necessity."
Among projects cited by The Heritage Foundation was the renovation of the Wayne Theatre in Waynesboro, which received $300,000 through Goodlatte's support.
Protecting The District
But Goodlatte responded to The Heritage Foundation study with a statement from his office.
"I am a true fiscal conservative and I believe in taking real measures to cut wasteful government spending," Goodlatte. "In fact, I voted against the [fiscal 2008] Omnibus Appropriations Act when it came before the House of Representatives earlier this week."
Goodlatte said a substantial amount of money was set aside in the budget for member spending requests.
"It would be unfair to my constituents to fund projects elsewhere in the country but not in my own district," he stated. "It was important for me to ensure that our region was represented fairly in the process and to work with the local governments in my district to determine funding needs.
"I did this by securing funds important to the localities in my district," Goodlatte continued in the statement.
Pork-Barrel Spending?
In addition to helping the Wayne Theatre Alliance secure funds for the Wayne Theatre, The Heritage Foundation reported Goodlatte was able to get money for several other projects. Among the earmarks mentioned in the study was $250,000 for improvements to Roanoke's historic district, $146,000 to The George C. Marshall Foundation, and $195,000 for expanding exhibits at Poplar Forest: Retreat Home of Thomas Jefferson.
Goodlatte, according to the study, also secured $300,000 for a sewer project in Lynchburg.
Danielle Doane, the foundation's director of House of Representatives relations, provided the list of Goodlatte-backed projects. The foundation did not rank the congressmen on the spending, Doane said.
"We're not saying all earmarks are bad," Doane said. But "they should have a basis in national security."
Little Political Risk
James Madison University political science professor and analyst Robert Roberts said the disclosure of the earmarks would probably do little political damage to someone like Goodlatte.
"When you have a district that is so Republican, you have nothing to worry about," Roberts said of Goodlatte on Thursday.
While Congress as a whole is held in low esteem, Roberts said, voters reward their own lawmakers who are able to direct federal funding to projects in their district. Goodlatte, Roberts said, is doing what his constituents expect.
Groups such as The Heritage Foundation hope that spending disclosures will change a few votes during close elections, he said.
"There's no evidence that happens very much," Roberts said.
'Bigger Government'
According to its Web site, The Heritage Foundation was founded in 1973 to "formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values and a strong national defense."
Earmarks have become ways to get people to do things that they would not normally do, Doane said.
"It leads to bigger government," she said.
Contact Jeff Mellott at 574-6290 or jmellott@dnronline.com
Why is it that earmarks are always air-dropped into must-pass spending bills at the last moment? If a member of congress wishes to get funding for his/her district, he/she should introduce legislation, and not secretly tack the spending onto popular bills. If the issue is important enough, there should be no problem in passing a stand-alone bill.
Don't get me wrong! Sometimes, money goes to useful projects such as building hospitals or schools. More often than not, funds are wasted on pet projects, such as money for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or money for theatres.
Sam Rasoul is a candidate that can bring about real transperancy to the system. He has even pledged half his salary to begin two organizations.
FutureCare - mobile clinics for young children
FutureJobs - a task force to assist small businesses
This is a man willing to spend his own money before spending the American people's money. Let's send someone to Washington who will make a difference.
But in making this choice Congressman Goodlatte has given up the fight to reform the present system. Put simply, the present system is one where clever Americans seek to profit from the Federal purse without scruple or any other limit. Well, the present system is one which by definition means ever growing debt (and other problems) and can not long endure < http://www.vanityfair.com/poli... >. Struggle against such a system was a bedrock principal of our Founding Fathers:
"To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude." ~ T. Jefferson
I prefer T. Jefferson to Bob Goodlatte. But, T. Jefferson is not available to run against Bob Goodlatte. We do however have Sam Rasoul. And Sam Rasoul sounds a lot more like T. Jefferson than Bob does.
But whatever you decide between Bob Goodlatte and Sam Rasoul, please get involved in the process, because:
"If you think yourself too wise to involve yourself in government, you will be governed by those too foolish to govern." ~ Plato