Senate Going Off Pork for Now

[MTI]

Often called "The King of Pork" the current chair of the US Senate's Appropriations Committee, Daniel Inouye, has announced that he will be following the president's ban on earmarks for the year.

Inouye's announcement follows President Barack Obama's pledge during his State of the Union address to veto any bill containing earmarks.

"The handwriting is clearly on the wall," Inouye said. "Given the reality before us, it makes no sense to accept earmark requests that have no chance of being enacted into law."

Inouye said the Appropriations Committee will revisit the earmarks issue next year "when the consequences of this decision are fully understood by the members of this body."

"At the appropriate time, I will once again urge the Senate to consider a transparent and fair earmark process that protects our rights as legislators to answer the petitions of our constituents, regardless of what the president or some federal bureaucrat thinks is right," Inouye said.

[PastorJoe]

Just goes to show you that Lefties like BO & the CMH winner Inouye can exhibit common sense occasionally.

[Hatterasguy]

I don't believe it, how will they send bribes back to their supporters?

[MTI]

Listing, By State, of Appropriation Requests, aka Earmarks for 2010

[t walgamuth]

I applaud the president for this!

[MTI]

The argument, by Sen Reid and other elected officials, that the president is ursurping the power of the legislative branch is quite ignorant of the separation of powers. The executive can veto any legislation and the legislative can override that veto.

What will be interesting is whether tea party elected officials, on the 2 year re-election cycle, can count on the folks back home to support their efforts without bringing home the bacon.