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By AMY DOMINELLO
Media General News Service
WASHINGTON – With Rep. Jo Bonner joining the Appropriations Committee, Alabama gains another voice on a powerful panel that steers how tax dollars are spent.
But some taxpayer watchdog groups say in appointing Bonner, R-Ala., House Republicans missed an opportunity to crack down on earmarks, or pet spending projects of members of Congress.
Bonner has a history of successfully adding earmarks for projects he finds worthy.
His appointment comes at a time when earmarks are increasingly under fire. President Bush has vowed to halve the number of earmarks this year, and House Republican leaders have been pushing for a moratorium.
“It’s an enormous missed opportunity and calls into question the [Republicans’] commitment to earmark reform,” said Steve Ellis, a spokesman for the non-partisan Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Bonner said critics should hold their fire, because he intends to be a guardian of taxpayer money. He said he supports an earmark moratorium while a review of the earmark process is done.
“Give me a chance to show not only what my words are, but what my actions will be before you judge me prematurely,” Bonner said in an interview.
But Leslie Paige, a spokeswoman for the nonpartisan Citizens Against Government Waste, said Bonner’s record on earmarks is hardly a ringing endorsement of his commitment to reform.
“We don’t want someone with a history of gaming the system,” she said.
According to Taxpayers for Common Sense, Bonner’s name, along with others, was attached to $28 million in earmarks during this fiscal year. Much of the money went to projects in Alabama.
House Republican Leader John Boehner said in a statement last week that despite having requested earmarks in the past, Bonner was selected for the committee because he “symbolizes the changing perspective in the House Republican ranks on the role of earmarks.”
Bonner said there are many examples of positive earmark projects. But he does acknowledge: “I am not, nor have I ever pretended to be, someone who is 100 percent opposed to earmarks.”
Times have changed, he said. He’s reviewing his past earmarks and looking for more transparent ways of funding projects. He said he will release reform details in the next week and hopes his reforms will be accepted by both parties.
“I’m going to work to put myself in the position of being a reformer,” Bonner said.
Ellis and Paige said they hope Bonner sticks to his word. Both would have preferred an ardent foe of earmarks on Appropriations, such as Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.
Bonner and Flake were two of seven Republicans who vied for the spot, created when Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., was appointed to the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Trent Lott.
Bonner joins two other Alabamians on the committee – Robert E. “Bud” Cramer, a Democrat, and Robert B. Aderholt, a Republican. Alabama is one of a handful of states who have more than three members on the 66-person committee. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., sits on the Senate’s Appropriations panel.
“There are very few states that have that much representation on the Appropriations Committee,” Bonner said.
Historically, a slot on the committee has been a way for legislators to score pork for their district, Paige said.
“It’s extremely powerful,” she said. “It gives you an inside track.”
Even if earmarks are eliminated, Ellis said, the power of the committee won’t.
“It’s still going to be writing checks for the government,” he said.
Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com
Media General News Service
WASHINGTON – With Rep. Jo Bonner joining the Appropriations Committee, Alabama gains another voice on a powerful panel that steers how tax dollars are spent.
But some taxpayer watchdog groups say in appointing Bonner, R-Ala., House Republicans missed an opportunity to crack down on earmarks, or pet spending projects of members of Congress.
Bonner has a history of successfully adding earmarks for projects he finds worthy.
His appointment comes at a time when earmarks are increasingly under fire. President Bush has vowed to halve the number of earmarks this year, and House Republican leaders have been pushing for a moratorium.
“It’s an enormous missed opportunity and calls into question the [Republicans’] commitment to earmark reform,” said Steve Ellis, a spokesman for the non-partisan Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Bonner said critics should hold their fire, because he intends to be a guardian of taxpayer money. He said he supports an earmark moratorium while a review of the earmark process is done.
“Give me a chance to show not only what my words are, but what my actions will be before you judge me prematurely,” Bonner said in an interview.
But Leslie Paige, a spokeswoman for the nonpartisan Citizens Against Government Waste, said Bonner’s record on earmarks is hardly a ringing endorsement of his commitment to reform.
“We don’t want someone with a history of gaming the system,” she said.
According to Taxpayers for Common Sense, Bonner’s name, along with others, was attached to $28 million in earmarks during this fiscal year. Much of the money went to projects in Alabama.
House Republican Leader John Boehner said in a statement last week that despite having requested earmarks in the past, Bonner was selected for the committee because he “symbolizes the changing perspective in the House Republican ranks on the role of earmarks.”
Bonner said there are many examples of positive earmark projects. But he does acknowledge: “I am not, nor have I ever pretended to be, someone who is 100 percent opposed to earmarks.”
Times have changed, he said. He’s reviewing his past earmarks and looking for more transparent ways of funding projects. He said he will release reform details in the next week and hopes his reforms will be accepted by both parties.
“I’m going to work to put myself in the position of being a reformer,” Bonner said.
Ellis and Paige said they hope Bonner sticks to his word. Both would have preferred an ardent foe of earmarks on Appropriations, such as Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.
Bonner and Flake were two of seven Republicans who vied for the spot, created when Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., was appointed to the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Trent Lott.
Bonner joins two other Alabamians on the committee – Robert E. “Bud” Cramer, a Democrat, and Robert B. Aderholt, a Republican. Alabama is one of a handful of states who have more than three members on the 66-person committee. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., sits on the Senate’s Appropriations panel.
“There are very few states that have that much representation on the Appropriations Committee,” Bonner said.
Historically, a slot on the committee has been a way for legislators to score pork for their district, Paige said.
“It’s extremely powerful,” she said. “It gives you an inside track.”
Even if earmarks are eliminated, Ellis said, the power of the committee won’t.
“It’s still going to be writing checks for the government,” he said.
Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com