Letters

Letter to the Editor: Renaming Congressional Earmarks Won’t Solve a Larger Issue in D.C.

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Likes pigs dining at the trough, members of Congress just can’t get enough pork to bring back home. 

On a bipartisan basis, they have resurrected the old “member items” previously known as “congressional earmarks.” Both Democrats and Republicans believe it is one way to assure re-election in 2022. Congressional earmarks have been rebranded under a new title, “community project funding” requests. It is the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig.   

Federal civil servants want to make sure dollars are spent for eligible projects that are shovel-ready, completed on time and within budget with taxpayers receiving the full benefits.
They have the independence and technical expertise to do a better job in the distribution of funds and to protect the interests of taxpayers in avoiding any waste, fraud or abuse than members of Congress.

Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.

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