Democrats Claim They'll Strip The Earmarks/Pork Out of Unfinished Spending Bills

King of Pork/Ex-Kleagle Robert Byrd claims this.

Democrats tidying up a cluster of unfinished spending bills dumped on them by departing Republican leaders in Congress will start by removing billions of dollars in lawmakers' pet projects next month.

The move, orchestrated by the incoming chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations committees, could prove politically savvy even as it proves unpopular with other members of Congress, who as a group will lose thousands of so-called earmarks.

"There will be no congressional earmarks," Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., said Monday in a statement announcing their plans, which were quickly endorsed by incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D- Nev.

We'll have to see. I have a feeling they just mean that "pork" and "special interest money" -- also known as "earmarks Republicans wanted" -- will be cut, and "investments in the future" -- also called "Democratic pork" -- will be retained.

But they've made a promise. Let's see if they keep it.

posted by Ace at 12:06 PM

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