Abolish the earmarks

Abolish the earmarks

Miami Herald: Back in 2006, when she was leading the charge to wrest control of the House of Representatives from Republicans, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., got a lot of mileage out of claiming that a “culture of corruption” prevailed under the GOP. Today, Pelosi is Speaker of the House and a Democratic majority is in control — and the shoe is most definitely on the other foot.

In June, the House Ethics Committee grudgingly disclosed that it is investigating allegations that Democratic lawmakers exchanged appropriations for campaign contributions. “Pay to play” is the name for this cozy — and unlawful — arrangement that funnels cash to politicians in return for political favors.

It’s an old story inside the Beltway, made more significant this time around for a variety of reasons. First, the money involved is not exactly chump change, even by Washington standards — $300 million funneled to a defense lobbying firm called PMA. Second, the firm is connected to a close ally of Speaker Pelosi, Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pa., who had been her original choice for majority leader before Rep. Steny Hoyer got the job.

The earmarks are back

Finally and perhaps most important, it involves earmarks — the same dodgy practice that got a few Republicans in trouble back when they were in charge.

Allowing members of Congress to appropriate money for a special purpose or recipient — earmarking — may be benign in concept and useful in allocating public money for good projects. In practice, it has become an abuse of the public purse.

The Democrats should have learned from the experience of the GOP: Trying to shield party colleagues from the embarrassment of an investigation usually backfires. If they have nothing to hide, there should be nothing to fear.

As for earmarks, the practice should be abolished. Find another way to use public money for public purposes. A better and more honest way.