Senate Votes to Keep Earmarks Alive -- With GOP Support

LOL where is my TEA PARTY AT.

ELECTION OVER,PROMISES FORGOTTEN,WELCOME THE NEXT 2 YRS SHOULD BE VERY INTERESTING

Our republic allows us as citzens to elect respectable candidates to the legistlature, for the sole purpose of voting the will of the people. This is a very wise, constitutional, legal, transparent process. Earmarking/ ie pork barrel spending is a process that attaches itself to a legal, earnest well debated peice of legislation that wont hold up to muster of debate as a stand alone bill, so it attaches itself to, and in so doing subverts the process that was so greatly and wisely devised by our founding fathers. It isnt debated and agreed upon, rather it is stealth and hasnt aired itself to be ruled on as the peoples will by the elected officials. Is there any question that the process subverts the constitutional safe guards of majority vote, as our founding fathers so wisely instituted? ans. NO. None at all. Is there any doubt the process is part of the larger problem we the people have,that being the 15 trillion dollar deficiet that we the people owe ??? Your responses are welcomed. Merry Christmas and a Happy NewYear to all. Signed Concerned American Citizen.

This is a nuanced topic. Earmarks, while widely abused, do have the useful effect of seeing to it that funds are directed as congress intends rather than at the whim of bureaucrats. Let's have a statesmanlike congress that directs spending to the essential and proper constitutionally authorized purposes that are legitimately in the public interest, and not just pork for poloitical gain.

Its time the Senate started doing the people's business instead of providing sweet deals to their states in order to be re-elected. In the House you have two year terms, once they get elected most of their time is spent fundraising for the next election. I'm sure many come to Washington with good intentions, but are soon seduced by the power, corruption, and the self gratification that comes with it.

Hey folks... do you really expect politicians to change? The election is only step one; you have to keep paying attention, and you have to remember who betrayed your trust. Another election comes along in 2012. A lot of those senators will be running, both Dems and Republicans. They count on you to forget or to be distracted by an issue of the moment. Stay awake!

The time for the two-party system should be over! More parties and diverse opinions should be represented in our country. A democracy where two parties rule is not a true democracy. Both parties hold a monopoly on government! Vote more independents, more greens, more moderates!

The republicans that were voted in are not ther yet. So do not blame them yet. But look to see who voted for earmarks and vote them out next time. Makes no different if they are democrats or republicans. Every bill should be passed on it own merits. These who think it is alright to put earmaks on other bills because they cannot stand on thier own merit need voted out. Save are grand childrens money for them.

just cant beleive how stupid we are to think that the republicans would ever change , they lie and the country keeps falling for it , this trend is really starting to scare me , the only bright spot of the day is not one mention of palin how refreshing, and im sure no mention of her is driving her nuts

They all talk about the defecate and cutting spending but they refuse to put a hold on earmarks and pork spending. These two items should be suspended until our budget is under control and our defecate is seriously reduced. Bringing home pork money does not make you a good representative.