In 2011 Congress passed a supposed “moratorium” on earmark spending. They haven't done a good job keeping their promises.
Citizens Against Government Waste released a report this week that outlines a 21 percent increase in earmark spending from 2015 to 2016, including:
1) $40 million to upgrade the M1 Abrams tank, even though the Pentagon says the upgrade isn't needed or wanted;
2) $56.6 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program (HIDTA), which was intended for border states but now includes eight states that are not on the border; and
3) $20 million for alternative energy research from... the Department of Defense.
According to Fox News, CAGW President Tom Schatz pointed out that there are always 70 to 80 votes to keep earmarking in Congress: "Until there is a permanent ban on earmarks they can always creep back up as they have been over the last several years."
A Convention of States has the power to propose exactly this kind of ban. When the people--acting through their state legislatures--call an Article V Convention of States, they can propose constitutional amendments that place limits on the power and jurisdiction of the federal government--including their power to spend.
Whatever the American people allow Congress to spend today, their children will have to pay off tomorrow. Thousands have joined the only movement that can effectively fix the irresponsible spending plaguing our nation. Can we count you in?
