Earmark spending can be stopped

President Barack Obama promised for months that he would bring change.

Here is one needed change: stop wasteful earmark spending. In the 2009 budget alone, Congress allocated $17.2 billion for 11,610 projects. And that’s less than half the number that was requested.

Candidates keep promising reform, but most of them put in their requests anyway.

There are three main groups who can stop the wasteful spending. Obama, for one, should veto bills with wasteful spending attached. As a candidate, he said he wanted earmarks stopped. Now he has the power to do something about it.

Second, members of Congress should stop requesting earmarks for their state. They shouldn’t try to boost their popularity with spending that increases the national debt.

Finally, citizens should tell their representatives not to request earmarks on their behalf. It’s tempting to want your “fair share” of federal money, but just remember, it came from your pocket in the first place.

Joshua Allen

Waynesboro