We were promised transparency. We were promised an end to earmarks. We were promised accountability. We were promised all kinds of idealistic stuff. Aaaaaaand...shockingly enough, this is what we got:

The administration's top budget official, Peter Orszag, said Obama would sign the $410 billion spending bill despite a campaign pledge that he would reject tailored budget requests that let lawmakers send money to their home states. Orszag said Obama would move ahead and overlook the time-tested tradition that lets officials divert millions at a time to pet projects.

It was the Washington equivalent of officials pinching their nose and swallowing a bitter pill.

"This is last year's business," Orszag said, offering an acknowledgment that Obama would sign a bill that doesn't conform with his campaign vows. "We want to just move on. Let's get this bill done, get it into law and move forward."

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel offered mirrored language: "That's last year's business."

The House last week passed the measure that would keep the government open for business through Sept. 30, when the federal budget year ends. Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group, identified almost 8,600 earmarks totaling $7.7 billion; Democrats say the number is $3.8 billion.

Regardless of the precise number, it was still far more than Obama promised as a candidate. He refused earmarks for the economic stimulus package he championed, as well as a children's health bill.

"We're going to be working with the Congress. We want to make sure that earmarks are reduced and they're also transparent. We're going to work with the Congress on a set of reforms to achieve those," said Orszag, who is director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Yeah, I'm sure the administration will get on that right quick. Oh, and guess who they blame for having to go back on their Hopey-Changey campaign rhetoric? I'll give you a hint: it's some guy whose name begins with a "G" and ends with "eorgewbush."

Posted by: Sean M. at 01:44 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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