MINNICK: No room for 'pork'

I heartily commend Congressman Minnick’s desire to stop “pork barrel” spending and abolishing earmarks. I am not sure his easy approach to this is going to work. I recommend he seriously consider some recommendations that I stated in my article, “MY Turn,” printed in The Press on March 27, 2010.

There was a time when I strongly believed in establishing the “Line Item Veto Authority” for the president. today, with what I call flagrant abuse of “Presidential Authority,” I am not sure this is such a good idea. I continue to believe our forefathers intended that the laws, the expenditures of the nation’s money, and the wishes of the people be decided and governed by the actions of a responsible and honest legislative body.

The pesident, then within his power as Executive and not Legislator, would sign the bill into law.

If I interpret Congressman Minnick correctly he intends to introduce legislation that will require implementation based on a creed of honesty on the part of the legislators. This has not worked in the past, and it will not work in the future. As I stated in my referenced article, there is no room for any “pork” in our legislative bills. We need an amendment to the Constitution that prohibits any amendment or rider to a bill unless it pertains strictly to the basic bill. This action would eliminate the need for line item veto, which if authorized could present the opportunity for an indiscriminate president to delay or stop needed legislation.

It is time we put the “cuffs” on the thieves who would, through pork, steal our tax money for buying votes back home with projects that have public appeal but no concrete requirement. Congressman Minnick is on the right trail, he needs to know his GPS is programed for the correct destination.

WALTER FRED HAMELRATH

Hayden