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Editorial: Pushing earmarks in through the window
Among the more than 100 federal earmark requests made by U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., is a small item that could quickly become a huge symbol for out-of-control spending from an out-of-touch Congress. McDermott wants to tap a beleaguered federal treasury to repair windows and replace the sills at the Rainier Club, a venerable Seattle establishment with a prominent membership.
The brick building was built in 1904, and it seems the deteriorating limestone sills are causing seepage and damaging structural timbers. Members have come up with half of the needed $500,000 for the project and are hoping for a federal match.
The justification for federal money is that it is a historical landmark. But while it is recognized as such by the state and the city of Seattle, the national registry doesn’t consider it to be historically significant, which means the club cannot apply for money through the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service.
Hence, McDermott is taking the earmark route.
The watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense has already caught on, with Vice President Steve Ellis telling the Seattle Times: “They are earmarking it because they can’t get in through the front door, so they are climbing in through the window.”
That group is really good at quotes like that; then again, McDermott made it easy with this indefensible request. The congressman is now trying to tamp down complaints by saying that it is unlikely the money will be approved.
“Given what’s going on in the country these days, it seems unlikely to me,” he told the Times.
That was true when he put it on this list. To see how it stands out, just place it beside some of his other requests: a cancer-research program, road projects and a law-enforcement initiative to combat gang violence.
One of the positive reforms to come out of Congress is that requesters must reveal themselves. It used to be that earmarks could be submitted anonymously, which meant members did not have to defend them. No such luck for McDermott, who posted his requests on his Web site.
According to McDermott aide Mike DeCesare, “There weren’t any that were outlandish, outrageous or embarrassing.”
We hope Congress disagrees. If not, it deserves another round of bashing over earmarks.