The Absurd Report

Conservative groups and bloggers are growing increasingly vocal about their desire for President Bush to issue an executive order canceling lawmakers’ earmarks in the omnibus spending bill. There is already widespread support for the idea among fiscal conservatives.

Today several groups called attention to the idea. Dick Armey, president of FreedomWorks, issued an action alert that asked his organization’s members to contact the White House. The letter reads in part:

I am writing to ask you to issue an executive order directing federal departments and agencies not to spend any tax dollars that aren’t explicitly appropriated in the text of the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Spending Bill. If you are serious about stopping the plague of earmarks, using this power would be a great way to show Congress they can’t waste our tax dollars.

Gary Bauer, president of American Values, used his daily e-mail to supporters to call attention to the issue.

Here’s another example of misplaced spending priorities: During the Senate debate on the omnibus spending bill, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) tried to offer an amendment that would have redirected all earmarked spending to improving deficient roads and bridges, like the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis.

The Coburn amendment was denied even a vote due to an objection from Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). But in future years, visitors to Las Vegas will be able to stop by the new post office museum, thanks to a $200,000 earmark requested by Senator Reid and paid for by you.

Meanwhile, the issue is also gaining steam in the blogosphere. Ed Morrissey of Captain’s Quarters cited sources on Capitol Hill who noted that appropriators are leaning heavily on President Bush to back down from an executive order.

The EO advocates need to remind Bush that only through dramatic action can the GOP reclaim any momentum on fiscal responsibility. A rescission package would only play into the hands of the same people who larded up the spending bill while delivering it three months late.

RedState has also joined the fight.