Congressman John Campbell's Blog - Green Eyeshade Blog

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Posted by: John Campbell at 3:18 PM

We are midway through the August Congressional recess, and as people who know me have heard me say often, the best thing about a Congressional recess is that you can relax for a short period knowing your pocketbook is safe while Congress is not in session. I guess one month of recess is not too much to ask after nearly 4 months of record breaking spending. All the appropriations bills have now passed the House and how many the Senate will take up is yet to be determined. Recently the group Club for Growth came out with their 2007 "RePORK Card" listing the 50 earmark stripping amendments and how each member of Congress voted for these amendments.

Even after the new Democrat majority pledged to restore "fiscal responsibility" to Congress, only 1 of the 50 amendments to strip pork from the appropriations bills passed. Only 16 members of Congress, all Republican, scored a 100% voting for all 50 amendments to cut pork spending. The average Republican score was 43% and the average Democrat score was 2%. The average score for appropriator members of Congress was 4%. Out of 435 members of Congress, 105 of them received a 0%, voting against every pork-cutting amendment.

Fiscal responsibility? I will let you be the judge. To see the RePORK Card, click here.

Email It | Print It | Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0)

View in ascending order

View in descending order

norman writes:	Wednesday, August, 22, 2007 7:56 PM
Only a few are consistent...
I am willing to bet that we would have seen similar numbers 2 years ago. I would say last year, but at the time the Dems would have had to vote for the reforms to put their money where their mouths were. But, because it is not an election year, Congress can go back to spending however much they want, and the only people who are actually going to be consistent are the people who have always thought it wrong to spend taxpayers money like crazy. In fact even the Republican score is a little high, and that is only because they are working on banding together so that they can get Congress back next year. There are a few in Congress who really believe in these reforms, but the vast majority on both the right and left see fiscal reforms as a political tool. My prediction is that "IF" polls start to show that fiscal irresponsibility is going to affect Dems in the upcoming election, only then will they do exactly what Republicans did with illegal immigration and make a huge deal about it. But unless they see the possibility that they will actually lose, don't count on these guys to try and change anything.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

santa writes:	Wednesday, August, 22, 2007 9:51 PM
Congress & Voting
First, although I'm not a citizen of your state, I appreciate your voting record on these items. Second, and more seriously, until we, the people, stop being foolish enough to listen to every siren song pitched by politicians we will continue to have all the thieves the Congress of the United States can handle. Last, it is a shame that the lone "Republican" from my state voted only 13 times to pass the amendments listed. I am older now, but I fear for our nation. When the party of "fiscal responsibility" spends as foolishly and as traitorously as the donkeys, there is little, if any, hope.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

deadpan writes:	Thursday, August, 23, 2007 2:02 AM
Keep up the fight!
I just watched your little skirmish with Boss Hogg Murtha, and other than your shimmering necktie, it was stirring. Murtha is beginning to remind me of the final scene in Orwell's Animal Farm where the men and the pigs could no longer be told apart. I've heard you on Hugh Hewitt's program, and I wish I could vote for you, but I live in Utah. Keep getting in Murtha's hair. You're a profile in courage.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

DVangura writes:	Friday, August, 24, 2007 7:01 AM
Voting record
Those congressmen and women who are for fiscal responsibility and those who want to challenge members of Congress who are not need to make this a MAJOR issue in the up coming election. The only way earmark reform will pass is to remove the obstacles to this reform. This voting record is the perfect way to see what Republicans need to be eliminated in the primary election (which is MORE important than the general election) and which Democrats need to be defeated in the general election. I suggest we adopt the title of COL David Crockett’s speech regarding the “earmarks” of the 1800s. NOT YOURS TO GIVE! http://www.house.gov/paul/nytg.htm
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

Frigglesnitz writes:	Friday, August, 24, 2007 8:47 PM
MURTHA
doesn't look well. Slopping at the trough will do that to a person. Gnawing at all the bones thrown -- and then going after more -- will do that to a person. Swilling slop is not healthy. It was refreshing to see he lost one opportunity at the trough. We need to keep all that slop in the daylight so that we the people can at the very least get a clue as to where all the money goes. We know that in a household it goes pretty fast, just on the necessities. Pork fests are few and far between for the average American.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.

Salutation:

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Address 1:

Address 2:

City:

State:

Zip:

About John Campbell

John Campbell is a member of the House Financial Services Committee, and has taken a leadership role in addressing the country's top economic issues. Campbell serves as a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and House Committee on the Budget. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from UCLA and a Master's Degree in Taxation from USC.