McCain Takes on Earmarks (Again)

John McCain has sometimes had mixed relations with economic conservatives, but one area in which he’s been quite strong is spending — especially when it comes to earmarks. He made strong remarks on earmarks in his speech at CPAC ("I will not sign a bill with earmarks in it, any earmarks in it"). Today, he continued in that vein with this release urging a one-year moratorium on the practice:

Next week, as the Senate begins to address this year’s budget, I will join with Senator Jim DeMint, in sponsoring an amendment to impose a one-year moratorium on earmarks. The American public has spoken: No More ‘Bridges to Nowhere.’ We should begin now.

I call on my Democratic colleagues, Senators Clinton and Obama, to join me in supporting the DeMint amendment and make this a bipartisan effort to return the budget to a focus on genuine national priorities. And, in the spirit of openness and transparency in government, I call on them to fully disclose all of their earmark requests while serving in the U.S. Senate.

Stopping earmarking isn’t the silver bullet. It’s not the only battle in the fight for smaller government, nor even the biggest one. but it’s one that matters, in part because of the corruption and waste that the practice encourages, and in part because, right now, with the help of leaders like John McCain, it can be won.

UPDATE: On the other hand, looks like Sen. Harry Reid isn’t going to do much to help make progress on this front.