Is That A Mark On Your Ear?

Here's the skinny on the fat. Earmarks will no longer appear on any piece of legislation. Word has it that the new term will be "Funding Requests". See, if a friend, relative or influential supporter ( rich guy) requests funding, then that's something our legislators can add to a bill being proposed. It won't be an earmark because it was requested. As opposed to the legislator just putting something in the bill that wasn't requested by somebody. It's all very clear and above board. Well, no wait. Actually it's not all that clear. It's more translucent or even opaque and therefore not all that "above board". What I wonder is how long it will take before Funding Requests will become a bad word so they can go back to earmarks? Or will they have to come up with a new name for an old habit? These earmarks/funding requests were supposed to have ended, but in the defense bill they're getting ready to push  through, there are 115 of the things in it. $834,000,000 that they've been able to find and another 31 they're not sure of. Here's the best part. Ya know all those freshmen legislators in their first term? The ones who campaigned against earmarks? Well 20 of them have earmarks in this one piece of legislation alone. Now the reason they can't determine the total number of earmarks is because they've been removed from websites and the like. The thinking was probably that if you can't see them, they don't exist. Except that they do exist and they still cost taxpayers millions. Now, let me assure you that these earmarks, oops I keep forgetting to call them funding requests, these things are bi-partisan. Members of both parties are building them into this over padded bill. So, once again, if your cousin the congressman or your uncle the Senator hasn't asked for your request for funding, just get it in. There's not much time left on this bill.