What Are Earmarks? Read An Earmark Primer

Today, US Senate Republicans agreed to a ban on earmarks proposed by Sen. Jim DeMint (S.C.). The Republican Conference by voice vote called on Democrats to adopt a voluntary ban moments. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) called on Democrats to swear off requests for “Congressionally directed spending item, limited tax benefit or limited tariff benefit” during the 112th Congress (the next two years). The House Republican leadership who will control Congress in January had already signaled to the Senate earlier that they would ban earmarks in the during the 112th Congress.

Curtis Coleman answers the following important questions  An Earmark Primer: A simple summary of a complex conundrum - and a solution:

• What are earmarks?
• How do they work?
• Are they good?
• Are they bad?
• Are they constitutional?
• Do they increase our national debt?
• Do they cause corruption in government?
• Is there a solution?

Curtis Coleman is President of The Curtis Coleman Institute for Constitutional Policy, headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas and a contributor to the ARRA News Service.

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