While the effort in Congress to get rid of earmarks has gained momentum, that won’t stop congressmen from getting money to military projects in their districts, according to defense experts. The projects are seen as too vital to their communities for the spending spigot to be turned off,
The Hill reports.
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| President Barack Obama |
“People think earmarks are bad, but many defense earmarks go toward things Americans strongly support, such as small businesses, medical research, and the National Guard and Reserves,” Travis Sharp of the Center for a New American Security, tells the news service.
“The defense industry considers earmarks to be a part of the defense budget, where innovation is more welcome,” Sharp adds.
President Barack Obama promised in his State of the Union speech that he would veto any bills with earmarks. Meanwhile, House and Senate Republicans approved voluntary earmark bans.
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