GOP senator: Say no to return of earmarks, the ‘original Swamp Thing’

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) penned an op-ed blasting the use of earmarks, referring to them as the “original Swamp Thing.”

“Remember earmarks, those infamous, special-interest spending provisions party leaders used to sprinkle over legislation like sugar to get representatives and senators to hold their noses and vote yes on bills they would otherwise oppose?,” Lee wrote in a piece in the Washington Examiner.

He said people probably haven’t heard of earmarks lately, referring to them as everything Americans “couldn’t stand about Washington — corrupt, wasteful, entitled, and out of touch.”

{mosads}

“But on Thursday, a House committee will hold a hearing to see about bringing them back,” he wrote.

“Earmarks were the original Swamp Thing, and just like in Hollywood, Washington is never above an ill-advised sequel to make a quick buck.”

Lee said Congress is “dysfunctional” today, noting that earmarks “probably would make it easier for party leaders to buy the votes they need to pass the bills they write.”

“But the real problem here is this conceit that party leaders have a natural mandate to exclusively write legislation,” he wrote.

“Earmarks can’t bring back the trust Congress has squandered. Only transparency and accountability can do that.”

Lee wrote that Congress will eventually “restore itself to its proper role in the federal government and in American life.”

“Earmarks are just one more bad idea we need to discard before we finally face the truth and do our jobs,” he wrote.

“Just say no to the return of Swamp Thing.”

On Wednesday, lawmakers from both parties expressed support for reversing the House’s ban on earmarks, despite skepticism from key conservatives who originally pushed to end the practice nearly a decade ago.

The overwhelming consensus at a House Rules Committee hearing on Wednesday was that allowing members of Congress to authorize pet projects back in their districts makes them more effective at their jobs.

President Trump appeared to endorse reviving earmarks during a meeting at the White House last week, suggesting they could help Congress function better.