"House Republicans are deeply disappointed the speaker [Nancy Pelosi of California] and her Democratic colleagues have refused to join us in supporting an immediate moratorium on all earmarks," said House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican. "Wasteful pork-barrel earmarks have become a symbol of a broken Washington."
Democrats blocked the measure in a 204-196 vote that split closely along party lines, prompting Republican charges that Democrats are soft on reforming earmarks, the process by which members slip pet projects into spending bills.
The vote to bring up the bill garnered support from 189 Republicans and seven Democrats. No Republicans voted to reject the measure.
Democrats, who passed some earmark reforms last year, said Republicans abused the earmark process for the dozen years they ran Congress and were now touting the issue solely for political gain
."For the Republican Party leadership to belatedly give us lectures on earmarks is, in my view, akin to reformed alcoholics giving lectures on temperance," said Rep. David R. Obey, Wisconsin Democrat and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "The previous Republican leadership was notorious for using earmarks as enticements in order to get their membership to vote for bills that individuals may otherwise not be inclined to vote for."
And...? Thus...? So...?
Therefore, because you guys are all miffed about the Republicans previous irresponsibility (and they were awful, I agree), now you're going to take your toys and go home without even trying to fix the problem?
You idiots! You DemocRATS ought to have grabbed the ball from the ReTHUGlicans and run with it - you should have spearheaded sweeping reform, and done your best to promote fiscal responsibility and transparency.
Instead, you're going into a sulk like spoiled toddlers.
Oh, yeah, that's right - we are talking about Congress, after all...
And besides, who better than a reformed alcoholic to talk about the evils and consequences of alcoholism?
