Kirkpatrick Inconsistent On Spending
This week, U.S. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick gave a strict lecture on federal spending. She warned, “Our national debt is setting new records each week, and Washington cannot ignore it any longer. Unless we take action, the debt could bring our recovery to a standstill, and raise interest rates for our families. Allowing excessive spending to continue is not an option. In 2010, we must draw the line and put fiscal discipline at the top of our agenda.”
On the little things, Kirkpatrick has been true to her supposed commitment to fight government spending. Unlike most of her colleagues, she has not submitted any earmarks for special spending for the 11th Congress. Neither has she engaged in any personal travel charged to government expense accounts.
That’s great, but on many bigger items on the congressional agenda, Kirkpatrick has found herself unable to say no. For example, Kirkpatrick voted in favor of the 2010 military appropriations bill, which was stuffed full of waste and pork barrel spending.
If Representative Kirkpatrick is going to be truly effective in working to cut government spending, she will need to do more than just fiddle around on the margins. She’ll have to take on the powerful corporations that profit from unnecessary military contracts as well.
