Stern words for Congresswoman on earmarks
Washington Ag Today May 27, 2010 The subject of federal budget earmarks was discussed at the recent meeting of the Washington Grain Commission. Commission Chairman Dana Herron says there are two kinds of earmarks. One is the Christmas tree list of pet projects added to unrelated bills that need to pass. Herron: “This, I agree 100%, earmarks for that type of pork-barrel politics are unacceptable to the American public.” But then there are some annually funded research projects from the USDA which Herron says are unfortunately being categorized as earmarks. Herron: “One of which is our ARS lab at Pullman and another on is the Western Wheat Quality Lab. Both of those institutions are very instrumental in conducting basis research that benefit’s the growers. And those annual allocations I do not classify as earmarks. Unfortunately some of our congressional delegation has lumped them together and we will have issues with that for the near future. We will be negotiating with them to re-instate that.” The U.S. House Republican Conference adopted a one year moratorium on earmarks and 5th District Republican Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers says she will not submit any project requests. Grain Commissioners expressed dissatisfaction with McMorris Rodgers position to her Policy Director for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mike Poulson, who attended the recent Commission meeting. Several Commission members said it is up to the congresswoman to find an alternative funding mechanism for the ag research projects. Chairman Herron went so far as to tell Poulson “If she doesn’t find an alternative she won’t get re-elected. “ I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ?
