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The Alchemist
The Alchemist blog is a forum to help companies with innovative technologies obtain federal government funding. Its focus is on the DoD Rapid Innovation Program,defense appropriations and other DoD SBIR Phase III funding opportunities. We encourage you to join in the conversation with your comments and insights. For timely updates on the new DoD Rapid Innovation Program, subscribe to our blog.
The Alchemist
The Alchemist blog is a forum to help companies with innovative technologies obtain federal government funding. Its focus is on the DoD Rapid Innovation Program,defense appropriations and other DoD SBIR Phase III funding opportunities. We encourage you to join in the conversation with your comments and insights. For timely updates on the new DoD Rapid Innovation Program, subscribe to our blog.
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| Posted by: Alan Dillingham |
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 5:46 PM |
Despite recent remarks that might suggest otherwise, Barak Obama is not ready to ban earmarks. While Obama stated that he wanted “an economic recovery plan that is free from earmarks and pet projects,” in a recent speech on January 8, he immediately went on to say, “I understand that every member of Congress has ideas on how to spend money. Many of these projects are worthy and benefit local communities. But this emergency legislation must not be the vehicle for those aspirations.”
Obama’s comments recognize that there is a time, place and purpose for earmarks. He is only asking that the upcoming economic stimulus package be free from earmarks. In truth, there are relatively few earmarks, if any, attached to this type of emergency legislation. Earmarks usually occur in the 12 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes annually. Work will begin on those bills after passage of the economic stimulus package.
Another indication that Obama is not on anti-earmark crusade can be found in the fact that there was virtually no reaction from appropriators in Congress in either party regarding his earmark comments. Instead, Congressional appropriators put forward their own earmark reforms on January 7, that call for greater transparency and a small reduction in the total number of earmarks from FY2008. It’s clear from all this that earmarks, though they may come under rhetorical attack, are not going away.
*** This item originally appeared as the fourth issue of the Alchemist newsletter ***
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© 2011 Alchemy Government Solutions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
© 2011 Alchemy Government Solutions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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