LAST NIGHT I MENTIONED SENATE EFFORTS TO KILL DEMINT’S ANTI PORK AMENDMENT. Now Wesley Denton of DeMint’s office sends this on the effort to kill his amendment: “This is an attempt to make law without actually writing law. The ‘incorporation language’ is a just gimmick to strong-arm taxpayers into paying for secret earmarks. Americans are fed up with wasteful spending rammed through in the dark of night. Senator DeMint’s amendment will ensure that all of these projects are subjected to a competitive, merit-based review before any of them are funded. Americans expect their taxes to be spent wisely or not spent at all.”

If people want appropriations for their pet projects, it seems to me they should have to ask for them publicly, have them reviewed through the usual channels, and have them voted for. Is that asking too much? Apparently. But efforts at putting secret earmarks through are likely to play badly right now, with the federal government already facing financial strain from bailing out corrupt, politically-connected entities like Fannie Mae.

I also notice that the press seemed a bit quicker to pick up on these earmark stories back when the GOP controlled Congress . . . .