From the PE: "Proud of Earmark"
Posted by: Jessica Austin | 08/19/2008 10:57 PM
Per all the comments and e-mails I recieve about earmarks, I thought what could be better to post than this article below from the PE. Now, I know not all conservatives are on the same page in their opinions of earmarking. Regardless, it is safe to say there is a huge difference between the responsible allocation of federal funds to congressional districts and the bridge to nowhere. It is even safer to say that Congressman Lewis will be winning his re-election in November.
Eleven years ago -- during a previous epidemic of home foreclosures -- Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, returned to his boyhood neighborhood near San Bernardino High School and was disturbed to see vacant, boarded-up homes.
Back in Washington, he pondered what could be done to reverse the decline.
Doing laps in the Congressional pool one day, he had an idea: Use federal dollars to buy up abandoned homes, refurbish them and sell them to low- and moderate-income, first-time homebuyers.
Owner-occupancy would stabilize the neighborhoods and pride of ownership would keep the properties maintained.
Then proceeds of the sales could fund other projects.
As then-chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on housing, Lewis was in a position to make it happen.
The success of that Neighborhood Initiative Program inspired him to expand it to Highland, Redlands and other parts of San Bernardino. In 1998, a pilot project was launched with $15 million.
Last week at a ribbon-cutting for a youth center and a groundbreaking for senior housing in Redlands, both funded by proceeds of the initial $15 million, Lewis touted the program as an example of a good earmark.
In the first five years, it funded the purchase of 600 foreclosed homes for about $45,000 each, refurbished them for about $38,000 and resold them at fair market value to buyers who met the income criteria and qualified for their own financing, said Paul Herrera, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency, which oversaw the program.
The initial $15 million investment multiplied into about $65 million from the sales proceeds, Herrera said.
Some of the proceeds helped fund construction of the Highland Community Center, the Mentone Library and Senior Center and the Redlands Boys and Girls Club. The money was also used to install curbs, gutters and sidewalks, as well as to refurbish homes, in a rundown North Redlands neighborhood.
But I wondered how many of the refurbished homes have remained in good condition, and how many have lapsed back into foreclosure. So I checked.
I recalled that Messina Street in Highland had been one of the hardest hit in the late 1990s, with 18 foreclosures on one street. How does it look today?
Highland Councilwoman Jody Scott had driven Messina Street the night before and found it in fair condition, with only a few empty houses and unkempt yards. Not bad considering today's foreclosure crisis.
Highland Police Sgt. Don Lapeer agreed: "As far as the blight, it's not nearly as bad as it used to be." The buyers got in before housing prices skyrocketed and the subprime mortgage boom imploded, he said.
Lewis' Democratic challenger, Tim Prince, has spoken out against Lewis' earmarks. But he said with proper accountability and disclosure, they can be good. He criticized Lewis for refusing to disclose his earmarks this year, raising questions about who will benefit.
Congress was pleased enough with the program to replicate it in Greensboro, N.C., Detroit, Syracuse and other cities, according to Lewis aide Jennifer Wickre.
Accountability is vital to ensure taxpayer money is well-spent. It seems to have been with this earmark program.
This is why many sports ban the use of performance enhancing drugs. Another form of doping is blood...
It's about time there was some one willing to point out the pragmatic nature of earmarks. They get a bad rap and a lot of idealogues spout rhetoric and speak without thinking. Ultimately it comes down to disclosure and transparency. The constitutional privilage gets abused when legislatures work in the dark and think nobody's looking. In this regard Lewis isn't perfect, but there's a reason why legislators get elected. Improving their communities with federal tax dollars is one of them. Great post!
Anyone care to look up the last Republican President to BALANCE budget, and then count the balanced budgets Democratic Presidents have passed since then?
Count on Republicans to TALK about balancing the federal budget and then SPEND this country into oblivion to support fascist miltary murder throughout the world!
Granted -- Republicans certainly are effective and successful at proliferating the BIG LIE! ... and nothing else ...
Anonymous, thanks for your comment :)
Granted, I am not necessarily taking a position on here- but I do think its always best to present both sides... especially since we have had some rather... well, how should I say this... "spirited" comments about earmarks lately.
As a government major, I have thoroughly studied various aspects of the workings of Congress, its members, and their constituents.
Of interesting note is that in general, voters have a rather negative opinion of Congress and earmarking. However, when asked about their specific Congressmember and their earmarks, they actually have an extremely positive opinion.
Personally, I really don't think the base is as concerned about earmarks as some would believe. I just think the ones that are concerned about it are so vocal about it- it's hard to not to hear them. And of course, its their prerogative to be passionate about issues they hold dear to them.
I don't think the GOP is suffering because of earmarks. We are hurting because we have lost touch with our base and the core, basic, philosophical conservative principals clearly outlined by great conservative thinkers such as Russell Kirk. And perhaps most importantly, our ethics.
I'm not even sure how to respond to this, Jessica.
But you know the saying, if you don't have something nice to say, perhaps it's best not to say anything at all. Which is the course I will take for now, as Mr. Lewis is our Republican nominee seeking re-election this November.
Haha.
Like I said, I am not necessarily taking a position on the subject of earmarks...
But I will agree with you on that little saying. Regardless of whether one likes or dislikes Congressman Lewis, he is a very respected Republican seeking re-election- so it's probably best as a party we put aside our differences and support our candidates (as long as they are not involved in any illegal or unethical behavior) to help ensure control of both Houses.
I am sure if the Congressman reads this, he will be pleased to hear that you have decided to not publicly criticize him.
Ok I do have something not nice to say. What happened to two of the great Bloggers Adam A and Joe T? They would have the balls to stand up to Jerry. Hmmm so if you get into trouble or arrested or banned then one is shunned and not allowed to blog anymore.. Jerry Lewis please! I saw we just leave that ballot box blank! Too bad he is not retiring early. How can you call yourself a Republican, hold yourself to the ideals of not wasting tax dollars, then cheer for his wasteful spending?
Well I need to go start raising money for my 2010 run.
Bama Boy:
I am flattered by your interest and concern as I know I count you as a loyal supporter of mine. ;0)
My primary focus on this blog has usually been those issues specific to the City of San Bernardino. Frankly, it takes a tremendous amount of time and energy to blog and I am not longer willing to commit as much time to blogging as I have in the past.
Although I have been critical of Jerry Lewis in the past, which to my knowledge did not go unnoticed, it was just one post of mine on earmarks. I met him a couple of times when I was working as a staffer for Assemblyman Ray Haynes and think he is a genuinely nice man and I have always enjoyed listening to him speak.
As a staunch fiscal conservative depressed and demoralized by our party's self-induced suicidal propensity to stray from its philosophical moorings...I get very frustrated and impatient.
I didn't join the Republican party to become part of a club. And I sure as hell don't need the party to find friends.
Like anyone else, I am far from perfect and have my own faults and shortcomings. Until the GOP gets its own house in order and takes ownership for its failures, we will continue to languish and drift to the margins of irrelevance.
We must give the people a true alternative vision reinforced by action instead of promotion by rhetoric and groupthink.