Earmark Conniptions

The Republicans roadblocked the federal budget this past week to throw a political conniption about earmarks. The shallow press played into this hysteria with their usual mindless incitements.

Let's look at a few things.

What is an earmark? Simply, it designates funds for a specific use.

How much of the federal budget is earmarked? Earmarks in the current budget bill amount to $7.7 billion, less than 2% of the overall spending.

What is an example of an earmark? Since the 2010 budget is stalled, I looked at the 2009 federal budget.

I looked at Agriculture and Rural Development (just because it was first in the A to Z list), and drilled down selecting the highest dollar amount in each of the categories.

Republican Senator Inhofe (OK) requested $894,000 specifically for biomass-based energy research.

So the money was earmarked for energy research in Inhofe's state.

You decide whether there is justified outrage or just political posturing from the Republicans this week.

(By the way, this research occurred as I ate breakfast.)