Iraq war, not earmarks, busting federal budget

April 17, 2008
Iraq war, not earmarks, busting federal budget

Bridge to nowhere: $398 million.

Pre-emptive war to nowhere: $3 trillion.

Sometimes it's important to review where our federal tax dollars go and in what proportions. Conventional political spin would have us believe that spending on unnecessary earmarks is busting the budget while the war in Iraq need not enter our fiscal consciousness because it's funded with "supplementals" and therefore "off budget."

House Dems adopt limits on 'earmarks,' deficit spending

January 6, 2007
House Dems adopt limits on 'earmarks,' deficit spending

The so-called pay-as-you-go budget rules were passed with broad support as part of a package that
also requires lawmakers to disclose which "earmarks," or spending items, they have added to bills.
The explosion of earmarks in recent years -- including the infamous "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska
-- fueled voters' anger and contributed to Republicans' election losses last fall.