The bailout bill asks: When is pork politically kosher?

On the subject of pork-barrel spending, President Bush was adamant at the start of the year: It had to end.

He threatened vetoes. He said there would be no more dark-of-night legislation hiding the "earmarks."

He told the Conservative Political Action Conference in February:

Last month I issued an executive order that directs federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not actually voted on by the United States Congress. This executive order will extend beyond my presidency. It will stay in effect unless revoked by a future president. What that means is any president who wants to return to the old ways of unaccountable and wasteful spending will get to do so publicly. And if that happens, that president will have some explaining to do.

Until, of course, the projects show up in a bill the president really, really wants.

So, here's a classic Washington lesson:

There is no bill Bush wants more right now than the $700-billion credit-market-economy-stabilizing-bailout-rescue-whatever-you-want-to-call-it-as-long-as-you-vote-for-it bill pending before the House.

What's in it?

Let's take a peek, courtesy of our Los Angeles Times colleague Richard Simon:

-- Legislation that, for insurance purposes, equates mental and physical illnesses. It's a priority of Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.). He voted against the bill on Monday.

-- A tax benefit for bicycle commuting. That's favored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.). He voted against the bill on Monday.

-- Extension of the solar tax credit. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) has said she wants to make Arizona the "Silicon Valley of solar energy." She voted against the bill on Monday.

-- Extension of the research and development tax credit that is important to the high-tech industry, and to Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), whose state is home to Microsoft. He voted against the bill on Monday.

-- Extension of a measure that allows residents of states without state income taxes -- Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming and Tennessee -- to deduct sales taxes from their federal income tax liability.

-- Extension and expansion of tax breaks to promote energy conservation and renewable energy. Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Efficiency Caucus, favors it. He voted against the bill on Monday.

And don't forget tax breaks for Hollywood studios, to encourage them to film in the United States, and for manufacturers of wooden toy arrows.

In other words, plenty of pork.

Deputy White House Press Secretary Tony Fratto acknowledged the president's many statements decrying hidden earmarks. But, he said, such purity is just not possible during a crisis:

I think it's probably impossible to have that kind of standard on every single bill, but remember that we are facing a crisis and the core of this bill is critically important for our economy. We keep saying it. We don't want to take extra days to deal with this.

Suddenly, pork is politically kosher.

-- James Gerstenzang

Photo credit: Joyce N. Boghosian / The White House 

Comments

[William]

This bill was written to bail the bad debt on Wall Street. We are forgoing the natural economic process, bank fails, some losses are absorbed by stocks, assets sold, and Federal Government takes portfolio and sells it, depositors insured. Now the US government is going to prepay bad debt at full absorbing all of the loss that has been generated by fiscally irresponsible banks.

Hard working Americans have been punished enough by this administration. We are faced with a higher cost of living, high energy prices, our jobs have been exported and now we are going to face a $110 billion deficit.

The rich will be fine, what about the working class? Will this be our future; Take a look at this http://www.BuyMyHouseBeforeTheBankTakesIt.com

Our economy is just as important as our national security. Its time that we address our economic policy, encourage domestic production, discourage outsourcing, and work together to fix America?

[bicycle commuter]

I think the bicycle tax break will help reduce some of the "pork" in our nations fat bellys. I'm a conservative and I strongly support that clause. I also bike to work, which means I reduce traffic congestion, reduce health care costs, reduce oil consumption, reduce wear and tear on our roads, and most importantly, didn't in any way contribute to this countries dept problem, so this $20 a month will be my reward.

[John Gleason]

In retrospect, the leashes on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should have been much shorter. McCain was right on that point.

[Shelby]

The tax credits included in the financial bailout plan should provide a big boost to the renewable energy sector. http://www.greatgreenlist.com/Solar-Products-and-Resources-162.html lists solar companies that should benefit from the bill.

[Cory]

Once again, Bush gets all of the blame. My butt itches.....must be the President's fault !!

I can't wait until a democrat is president, then we will be told all is well again.

[J Tucker]

This whole thing is a joke. They were in an absolute panic to get this thing passed, and yet they take a couple of days off on a holiday? And then they basically have the same bill but with some goodies to get a couple of more votes. I will tell you this, I will see who voted yes on this piece of garbage and adios the people who supported it.

[1985 Gripen]

Why is it this article calls-out and holds responsible the politicians who supported various pork insertions into the bailout bill, but allows whomever sponsored the film industry pork insertion remain anonymous?

Is it because it hits a little too close to home for the Los Angeles Times?

I would like to write to this politician if I am one of his/her constituents and tell them about how I'm voting AGAINST them the next election cycle as a result. This emergency bill was NOT the place to stick pet projects knowing this was the only way to get them to pass. Who was going to be crazy enough to hold-up this emergency bill a second time while the markets were tumbling? Even McCain voted for it with all the pork in there. He had no choice and the politicians who sponsored pork insertions into this knew it.