Congressman John Campbell's Blog - Green Eyeshade Blog

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Posted by: John Campbell at 4:05 PM

Last week I blogged about the Flake/Campbell amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill, however there were other amendments that are worthy of mention.

Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), offered an amendment that would prohibit the use of federal funds for a “Monument to Me” for any Member of Congress.

Thankfully, the amendment passed. Here is a list of some of the most egregious examples:

Robert C. Byrd Center for Hospitality and Tourism
Robert C. Byrd addition to the lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling
Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex
Ted Stevens International Airport, Anchorage
Harkin Grants: A grant program for local school remodeling in Iowa
Harkin Wellness Grants: A grant program for promoting healthy lifestyles in Iowa
Thomas R. Harkin Global Communications Center (CDC building)
Arlen Specter Headquarters and Emergency Operations Center (CDC building)
Mitch McConnell Park in Bowling Green, KY
John D. Dingell Drive, which allows access to the new airport terminal at Detroit Metro
Cynthia McKinney Parkway in Atlanta
Jack Murtha Highway
James E. Clyburn Golf Center
James E. Clyburn Pedestrian Overpass
James E. Clyburn Intermodal Transportation Center
Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York

As you can tell this isn’t just an isolated problem. But rather it is a widespread problem that both parties are engaging in. That’s why I am original cosponsor of H.R. 5771, which will attack this problem head on and eliminate the practice of “Monuments to Me” for good.

This kind of bombastic self promotion with taxpayer dollars must stop.

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Joe writes:	Tuesday, August, 05, 2008 4:19 PM
The rule should be you have to be dead
before anything is named after you. Thank you for supporting this Congressman Campbell. That is a better legacy than these silly naming projects. I would put a retroactive clause in these provisions too. Rename these current projects. I suppose some smart alec might suggest these politicians could commit suicide to keep their names on these projects--but I will leave that for the liberals to argue about.
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PatMc writes:	Tuesday, August, 05, 2008 5:21 PM
But who gave it that name?
Anchorage International has been around since 1951. It didn't pick up the "Ted Stevens" name until 2000. Is Congressman McCaul suggesting that Senator Stevens engineered the name change? Or that the airport authority changed the name in order to receive some of Ted's famous earmarks? Just how does this amendment operate anyway? Does it bar all federal funds from any facility named after a serving member of Congress? Seems like an overreaction to me. I can see the argument against appropriating money for a new facility where the authorization spells out some current congressman's name. But if the local authority wants to rename a fifty year old airport in some politician's honor why does Congress care?
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paddy o'furniture writes:	Tuesday, August, 05, 2008 5:22 PM
Gay prostitution up DNC Convention....
.
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The Great Satan™ writes:	Tuesday, August, 05, 2008 5:59 PM
............
If there is a monument to Robert KKK Byrd it should be in the shape of a urinal or toilet.
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gettingoldernwiser writes:	Tuesday, August, 05, 2008 6:34 PM
GEEEESH!
Hey West Virginia, why do you continually send that geriatric to congress? Also, how can you not be embarrassed by his lunatic rants?
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Joe, Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Right writes:	Tuesday, August, 05, 2008 8:22 PM
Paris Hilton manages to surprise
http://townhall.com/blog/default.aspx?mode=post&g=41e62620- fa26-4b1b-bffb-84e487ed2300&comments=true&submitted=true9fb 7914c-e888-4dd0-995d-7577c70ff952 Her answer and video are better than both campaigns are dong lately.
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animalgirl writes:	Tuesday, August, 05, 2008 9:04 PM
Yeah,,,
In the same vein as the Ted Stevens airport thing, Cynthia McKinney Parkway--i.e., eastern Memorial Drive--existed long before Cynthia McKinney, and there was nary an improvement made when it got renamed. People just wanted to name it after her. She was actually an excellent state senator, and people were at first excited when she got elected--she then proceeded to go insane, of course. But the renaming was just a renaming.
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animalgirl writes:	Tuesday, August, 05, 2008 9:06 PM
Also
When is it egregious? There's the Sam Nunn federal building in Atlanta. Is that pork? There needed to be federal offices somewhere around here, right?
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activated writes:	Wednesday, August, 06, 2008 5:51 AM
Its a waste
of congress's time and our taxdollars, thats why. If a private group wants to petition and pay for the change go ahead, but dont waste my tax dollars.
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S. S. T. writes:	Wednesday, August, 06, 2008 9:44 AM
Simple
Sponsors and Co-sponsors of earmarks can no longer name the projects that their earmarks are supporting after themselves. Is it 100% fool proof? No, but it will knock out just about everything. It will take some contortion on our politicans part to continue the practice, this will increase their unfavorable exposure and create more work for themselves to get it done. Hmmm... 'unfavorable exposure', and 'more work': two things that are garlic to these Beltway Bloodsuckers.
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Joe, Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Right writes:	Wednesday, August, 06, 2008 10:30 AM
Where's Bush?
In China. And he threw the GOP House leadership under a bone dry bus before he left. http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-republican-leade r-rips-bush-2008-08-05.html Message to McCain--support the House GOP on this. They will love you for it. P.S.--Perhaps we should name future projects after fallen heroes in Iraq and Afghanistan? Just a suggestion.
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StPBilch writes:	Thursday, August, 07, 2008 8:16 PM
A suggested amendment
to this excellent idea would be that an elected official must have been dead for at least twenty years before public funds can be spent on any structure that is named after them. This will limit the naming of public assets only for those few pols whose good work stood a test of time.
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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.