Congressman John Campbell's Blog - Green Eyeshade Blog

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Posted by: John Campbell at 11:30 AM

Tonight, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) will be hosting a gala dinner tonight at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Pentagon City for defense industry lobbyists who have received and who hope to receive millions of dollars worth of earmarks in FY 2009 appropriations bills.

Mr. Murtha will be joined by Reps. James Moran (D-VA) and Peter Visclosky (D-IN). All are well known for their “Earmark for a Contribution” prowess. Last year Roll Call found that these three members funneled millions of earmarked tax dollars to firms whose executives subsequently contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to their campaign funds.

This event has not gone unnoticed, RedState.com called initial attention to the soire, and they have now teamed up with the National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Prosperity, and Citizens Against Government Waste to hold a rally outside the event in defense of the taxpayer.

I would not be surprised if this is the first of many protests by the public who is fed up with the pork barrel politics of Washington.

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campagnolo writes:	Wednesday, February, 27, 2008 12:28 PM
Republicans a fiscal catastrophe
Mr. Campbell, I hope you understand the behavior and actions during the six years of the Bush Administration in concert with the Republican led Senate and House has thoroughly undermined any credibility Republicans have on the claim of being fiscally responsible. Let's review what you accomplished during this period: According to the Heritage Foundation $24.5 billion dollars are unaccounted for in the 2003 budget Discretionary spending in real terms, which went between 1991 and 1999, increased 35% between 2001 and 2005. http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/upload/93690_1.pdf 12 Billion dollars of cash was sent to Iraq on pallets. No one seems to be able to account for where it went. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/feb/08/usa.iraq1 A billion dollar contract to Dynecorp in which the government cannot account for what was received for the outlay of funds. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN22450778 Katrina waste and fraud estimated at 2 billion. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15587326 The federal deficit has increased about 1.34 billion a day since Bush took office. Meanwhile Bush proposes a 30 billion dollar aids package to Africa. Simply stated, Republicans have lost all claim to the fiscal responsibility title, because their actions belied their words. A viable third party is needed now more than ever.
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campagnolo writes:	Wednesday, February, 27, 2008 12:29 PM
correction
Sentence should read: Discretionary spending in real terms, which DECREASED between 1991 and 1999, increased 35% between 2001 and 2005.
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country before party writes:	Thursday, February, 28, 2008 10:03 PM
Gee
where were the rallies when Bush and the GOP controlled all branches of govt., while pork spending went up 1000%? Yeah, one thousand percent. Ten times as much as before. What a fool. What you're trying to sell makes you look silly, and hyper-partisan. I think campagnola spells out a few of the misgivings most conservatives feel towards the Republican Party of today.
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Lizeth Macias writes:	Friday, February, 29, 2008 1:13 AM
American Taxpayer Voices Should be Heard
Thousands of American citizens are not very content or satisfy with today’s federal government. After President George W. Bush’s first elected term, the country began going down the drain. Since 2001, politicians have proven that if the president of the United States of America can get away with anything, so can they. Many political events such as this gala sponsored by Mr. Murtha are funded by the hardworking, taxpaying American citizens. It is unfair that the people of our country dedicate their time and effort into earning their money fairly so that politics can use it up to throw their nice high-class dinners for their selective guest to gain their support in sponsoring them for the upcoming term in office. Mr. Murtha organized such a gala in the Ritz Carlton Hotel for his firms who have supported and funded his campaign. The National Taxpayers Union, America for prosperity, and the Citizens against Government Waste organizations the right to protest how their tax dollars should be spent. Our country needs to focus on other issues just as health care and public schooling. Our voices as American tax payers should be heard and should have a saying how we want our money to be spend. It is bad already that we Americans have to sponsor a war to also have to fund their social gatherings. Just because President George W. Bush can get away with his tantrum of going to war with the middle east, does not mean other politicians just as Mr. John Muther can have the liberty to spend hard worked money by citizens in their small gatherings.
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Bonita Dave writes:	Saturday, March, 01, 2008 4:03 PM
Out of touch Governenment
When I read stories like this or the story that was out of few days ago, stating how the 25 million dollar high tech border fence is a total failure, I start to feel that this country is certainly doomed to fail. We seem unable to accomplish anything except spending insane amounts of money. It seems when our elected officials go to Washington, something happens to their minds; totally forgetting the things that their working slob constituates need and want. They instead try to satisfy the needs and wants of intellectual elites who cater to a "higher good". Despite the system of checks and balances that our founding fathers established in order to avoid a tyranny of the majority (i.e. democracy), we seem to be led by a government that is increasingly out of touch, wasteful, and contrary to the average citizen's wishes. The only solution that I can come up with is term limits. If an elected official up front knows that he will be in Washington for a set period of time and will eventually have to go back home to live with the "little people", then I think his head will only grow so big. I would appreciate it if anyone else has a solution
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LittleL1954 writes:	Saturday, March, 01, 2008 4:58 PM
No Sale!! Congressman Campbell
As a Republican since the 1976 election and someone who voted for George Walker Bush 4 times (2 for Governor and 2 for Pres.)(I am sure a sap for that), What are you trying to tell us. That the Republicans are better. HA!! President Bush and the REPUBLICAN controlled Senate and House spent as if they had an unlimited bank account. Money was no object for years and now all of the sudden there is concern from Republicans, How dumb do you think the American public is? DON'T YOU DARE ANSWER THAT!! The Republican played us for fools and now that they see their POWER slipping away, there is concern. TOO LATE Congressman!! We know why there is concern, it is not concern for Americas future, it is stricly concern for Elected Republicans future, at all levels. Need an example OK. My Texas REPUBLICAN Governor and REPUBLICAN Legislature SOLD, thats right SOLD, our new Super Duper Highway System to SPAIN!! Thats correct a Company in Spain gets 50%+ of the revenue from our new Toll Road System for the next 50 YEARS. To make it worse, the TRUE purpose of this highway system is so MEXICAN Truck Companies and drive from Mexico to Canada without congestion. Republicans are BETTER-----NO WAY!!! Save your time and energy for debate on the floor of the House. It is time to SHOW America that Republicans are serious, but we know they are only hollow words during election cycles, especially John Sidney McCain III's words. WRITING A NAME IN in NOVEMBER!!!!
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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.