An Update on Our Congressional Earmarks Post

We reported yesterday that The Heritage Foundation has published a list of "72 Representatives who have firmly stated to constituents that they will support a continuing ban on Congressional earmarks."  Surprisingly, only one member of our own South Carolina delegation, Representative Tim Scott, was on that list.  We are pleased that Congressmen Mick Mulvaney and Trey Gowdy have now affirmed that they will also oppose any effort to return to the practice of earmarking.

The updated list is here.  The Heritage Foundation site also provides contact information and invites readers to contact their Member of Congress and report their positions back to Heritage.  

Perhaps when other Members of Congress hear from enough of their constituents, they will be able to decide whether or not it is a good idea to continue adding to a debt of $15 trillion.

Seventy-two (and Counting) Representatives Support Earmark Ban

Rep. Tim Scott, the only SC Representative listed as supporting a ban on earmarks.

It seems that the TEA Party movement has a considerable amount of work yet to do, even in conservative states like South Carolina.  The Heritage Foundation has reported that only "72 Representatives have firmly stated to constituents that they will support a continuing ban on earmarks."  

In South Carolina, only the principled Tim Scott is on the list.  Do the others need reminding or have they already succumbed to the Washington Establishment culture? 

The 72 supporting a continuing ban on earmarks are:

Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL)
Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)
Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ)
Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ)
Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA)
Rep. Howard McKeon (R-CA)
Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA)
Rep. John Campbell (R-CA)
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL)
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL)
Rep. Allen West  (R-FL)
Rep. Sandy Adams (R-FL)
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA)
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)
Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA)
Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA)
Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL)
Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-IL)
Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-IL)
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN)
Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN)
Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN)
Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS)
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS)
Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA)
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD)
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD)
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI)
Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI)
Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI)
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI)
Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN)
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO)
Rep. Alan Nunnelee (R-MS)
Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS)
Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-AL)
Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC)
Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH)
Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ)
Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ)
Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY)
Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY)
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)
Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)
Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH)
Rep. James Renacci (R-OH)
Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA)
Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
Rep. Mark Critz (D-PA)
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI)
Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN)
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)
Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX)
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX)
Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-TX)
Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX)
Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX)
Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA)
Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA)
Rep. Robert Hurt (R-VA)
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Don’t see your Representative here? Use this link to call and ask if he or she supports continuing the earmark ban.

--This post has been updated here.--

Obama, Biden and the Earmarks That Bind

The Washington Post reports today that "Senator Obama sought more than $3.4 million in congressional earmarks for clients of the lobbyist son of his Democratic running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden.

And we thought Obama was inexperienced in the ways of Washington!

According to The Washington Post, the younger Biden "has registered to represent about 21 clients that have brought in $3.5 million to his Washington firm, according to lobbying disclosure forms.

Dad works the system pretty well too. According to the Post, "Senator Biden has collected more than $6.9 million in campaign contributions from lobbyists and lawyers since 1989."