Tuesday, February 21, 2006

The original porkbusters

John Fund reminded us in late January about the original porkbusters. The current net based movement has proud origins. Indeed, when Jefferson wrote Madison that allowing individual members of congress to earmark money for their local or pet projects would "set off a scene of scramble among the members for who can get the most money wasted in theri State; and they will always get the most who are the meanest." That certainly describes "sheets" Byrd or "bridge builder" Stevens.

Would that the self proclaimed former grand klaxon of the klan would have as good a knowledge of the constitution as he claims. The necessary and proper clause and the commerce clause have become sieves for those who act like Harold Stimpole (see earlier post).

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