March 2nd, 2009
Last week, U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, announced he’d secured $300,000 in federal funds for the Chicago/Rockford International Airport.
Monday, Manzullo and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., secured $714,000 worth of funds, $238,000 each for Crusader Community Health, the University of Illinois College of Medicine and Rockford College.
What are these called? E-A-R-M-A-R-K-S.
See, when the critics assail earmarks, they’re talking about 3 percent of the federal budget. The proposed budget contains 9,000 earmarks, 60 percent from Democrats; 40 percent from Repulbicans. Some earmark requests come from the White House, same as when George W. Bush lived there.
Earmarked funding is building the $100 million federal courthouse.
Without earmarks, the Rockford area would have to rely on bureaucrats, all of whom live in Washington, to send a few bucks our way every once in awhile. Somehow I don’t think they know we exist.
Look. We already sent this money in — in our taxes. If we don’t get any of it back, some other area gets the money.
Some earmarks are irresponsible. But most are for legitimate projects. The key is transparency.
March 2nd, 2009
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL has sent a formal recommendation to President Barack Obama to reappoint U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to his post as chief federal prosecutor for the northern district of Illinois. Fitzgerald scares both Republicans and Democrats because he’s not political. Whether you’re Scooter Libby or George Ryan or Roddy Blago, Fitzgerald just wants to get the bad guys.
Here’s what Durbin said:
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter today to President Obama recommending that Patrick Fitzgerald be allowed to remain as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The Northern District of Illinois covers 18 Illinois counties and has approximately 9 million residents.
“Although the previous Administration has been sharply criticized for politicizing the U.S. Attorney selection process in some instances, there has never been any suggestion that Mr. Fitzgerald’s selection was anything other than merit-based. Indeed, Mr. Fitzgerald has exercise a level of integrity and independence that have made him one of the most effective and well respected federal prosecutors in America. I know you share my high regard for Patrick Fitzgerald, and I encourage you to keep him on as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois during your Administration,” Durbin wrote.
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