Obama v. Obama - Earmarks

President Obama says he supports slashing earmarks and making all spending decisions open to the public…

President Obama Pledges to Bring Earmarks to 1994 Levels

President Obama: According to the White House website, President Obama “will slash earmarks to no greater than 1994 levels and ensure all spending decisions are open to the public.” Throughout the campaign President Obama lauded his support for more “disclosure and transparency for special-interest earmarks.”
 
Then-Candidate Obama: “We can no longer accept a process that doles out earmarks based on a member of Congress’ seniority, rather than the merit of the project… And we can no longer accept an earmarks process in which many of the projects being funded fail to address the real needs of our country. (Senator Barack Obama, Press Statement, March, 2008)
 
Then-Senator Obama: “Americans deserve better financial leadership.” (Congressional Record, March 14, 2006)

… Yet President Obama Commits to Sign Massive Spending Legislation Loaded with Thousands of Earmarks and Shielded from the Public

Officials within the Obama White House have stated the President’s intent to sign the Democrats’ omnibus legislation, loaded with roughly 9,000 earmarks, and that is being rushed through Congress.
 
EVEN the President’s own Vice President, Secretaries of State, Interior, Labor and Transportation, AND Chief of Staff all have earmarks contained in the massive omnibus spending bill, according to media reports.
 
So why is the President BREAKING HIS PROMISE on earmarks?  According to OMB Director Orszag: “We just need to move on.”