Black Lawmakers Urged to Join Earmark Feast
Despite presidential veto, earmarks are likely to stay and be accessible
to minority-serving institutions under Democratic-controlled Congress.
By Charles Dervarics
After a short break, the U.S. Congress again wants to earmark some of its education funds to members’ pet projects, a commitment to pork-barrel spending that has led to a presidential veto as well as calls for more equitable treatment for minority-serving institutions.
Called earmarks, these special funding requests are tucked into annual spending bills at lawmakers’ request. Universities successful in this endeavor generally get around the peer review process required to seek funding under federal grant programs.
“They’re creeping back, and that’s an inevitable fact of life,” said Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of external relations at the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
Congress took a break from the process when Democrats vowed to cut back on the practice after taking control of the House and Senate. But some projects reappeared in the 2008 education and health spending bill, and President Bush cited the practice as one reason he vetoed the measure last month. The House and Senate could not override the veto, and the spending bill is still languishing in Congress.
But since most earmarks appear to go to large, traditionally White institutions, one expert says Black and other lawmakers should seek a greater share of the pie.
“I don’t know why Black legislators haven’t done it more often,” said Dr. Ronald Walters, a political scientist and director of the African American Leadership Center at the University of Maryland.
