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 House Republicans say they're going cold turkey on pork projectsThey call a moratorium on 'earmarks' to show fiscal responsibility, but some constituents who benefit from federal funds aren't so happy.By Richard SimonApril 12, 2010Reporting from WashingtonFor years, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) has proudly delivered a cornucopia of federal dollars to the folks back home -- more than $82 million this year alone, including money for road improvements and medical research.

But he and nearly all of his House Republican colleagues say they are swearing off such "earmarks" this year to demonstrate fiscal responsibility.

The change of heart has set up an election-year argument over who is best serving their constituents -- Republicans who say lean times demand belt-tightening, or Democrats who continue to seek special funding for local projects such as buying parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains or offering healthier food in Chicago schools.

"This is an important step for reining in out-of-control government spending and changing the culture of Washington," said Republican Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon of Santa Clarita.

Democrats dispute that characterization and say earmarks serve a valuable purpose.

"During these tough economic times," said Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), "Democrats shouldn't shy away for one moment from their responsibility and duty to improve schools, rebuild roads, retrain workers, provide healthcare and invest in the people and communities in their districts."

Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Garden Grove, Orange County's lone Democratic House member, is the only member of the county's congressional delegation pursuing earmarks this year.

"As long as the earmark process remains in place, Congresswoman Sanchez will fight tooth and nail for every federal dollar she can bring back to Orange County," said her chief of staff, Adrienne Elrod.

Republicans hope the earmark moratorium will play well with voters.

"Earmarks have become a dirty word to the American electorate," said Steve Ellis of the watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense. "That's why Congress is trying to re-brand the term; they call it 'congressionally directed spending.' Good luck with that."

California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) said the public would understand the GOP's no-earmark position and support it.

"I highly doubt the American people would prefer a local project be funded by dollars borrowed from China rather than trying to bring sanity back to the economy to save our children's economic future," Rohrabacher said.

This division among the parties is a departure from the past. Even in the most partisan times, Democratic and Republican lawmakers aggressively worked to bring home the bacon to show constituents they were getting back some of the money they send to Washington.

Congress this year included nearly $16 billion on 9,500 earmarks in its spending bills, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense.

The practice of steering money to projects, often sought by campaign contributors and lobbyists, has been controversial because of scandals, including one that landed former California Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham in jail.

"Pork-barrel spending"…

 The lessons of Iraq have been ignored. The target is now IranSeumas Milne:The US military buildup in the Gulf and Blair's promotion of war against Tehran are a warning of yet another catastrophe  Read Article

   From The Sunday Times of London July 12, 2009   Sordid reality behind Dubai's gilded facade

 Publisher's Note: One good story after another in today's Times of London   From The Times of London
April 24, 2009 Tehran is terrified: America is being friendlyIran's hardline leadership has been knocked sideways by Barack Obama's conciliatory tone. But how will it affect the election? Richard Beeston  
In Tehran drivers dutifully wear their seatbelts but think nothing of racing through a red light. Women must cover their faces and bodies under strict Islamic laws, but young women stretch the rules to reveal designer clothes, dyed hair, heavy make-up and prominently displayed bandages from recent cosmetic surgery. The state-controlled media fill the papers and air waves with a solid diet of prayers, documentaries about the Iran-Iraq war and speeches from the country's leaders. In the privacy of their homes, most Tehranis watch illicit satellite television channels beaming Persian music videos from California and uncensored news bulletins or just read foreign websites. The very same Iranian who would chant “Death to Britain” at the end of Friday prayers would also regard English football as his second religion. Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney are household names and the visa queue at the British Embassy stretches around the block. Iranians are hospitable to a fault. But the same generous host can just as easily lapse into paranoid conspiracy theories about how British spies run the country and the Jews rule the world. Welcome to Iran, now marking 30 tumultuous years since the Islamic revolution and facing an identity crisis as it ponders middle age. True, the country is young and energetic and has a strong sense of its culture and heritage. It is also endowed with huge energy resources. But power still resides in the grey-haired clerics whose policies have provoked international sanctions and pariah status in the West. Many Iranians still struggle to find work and feed their families in the face of double-digit inflation. Background Tony Blair calls for war on militant Islam Ahmadinejad gets boos in Geneva, cheers in Tehran IN DEPTH: King of awkward squad strikes again Diplomatic crisis over jailing of US journalist As it battles between preserving the ideals of the revolution and navigating its way in a complicated modern world, one figure looms large. The late Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic revolution, may have died 20 years ago but he still looks down on his people with a stern gaze from every office wall and billboard. His legacy continues to cast a powerful shadow. Now two serious problems have converged at the same time to confront Iran with some difficult decisions. One is Barack Hussein Obama, the first US President who broke the mould of previous leaders of the “Great Satan” by proposing to end 30 years of hostility. His address to the Iranian people last month knocked the regime off balance. This is not what American presidents are meant to do. The Iranian leadership is desperately looking…