EARMARKS AND LETTER TO EDITOR

As you know, I have been ranting against Congressional earmarks for several months. In an earlier blog dated April 17, 2008, I addressed by concerns with you and I followed that up with a Letter to the Editor at my local newspaper, the South Bend Tribune, which one of my good friends calls THE TRUMPET OF TRUTH.

On June 2nd I sent the following letter and a few days later I received a telephone call to verify that I had actually authored and sent the letter. Then a few days after that, I received another call expressing the paper’s concern relative to my letter’s content and suggestions. I told the paper that I did not agree with their concerns, but they could do whatever they desired, but I strongly felt the letter should be published.

Here is a copy of the original letter…………..

LETTER TO THE EDITOR – SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

“Why is it so difficult to secure details surrounding Earmarks attributed to our Congressman? I have repeatedly approached the South Bend Tribune with story requests on this subject and have directly contacted Congressman Joe Donnelly’s Washington Office to no avail. I was called by one of his assistants and referred to a confusing web site that required computer expertise beyond my talents.

It has been reported that Congressman Donnelly had delivered over $9,600,000 in Pork Barrel funds to the 2nd Congressional District, but one must suspect there is some reticence against full disclosure. Are we to assume that Cong. Donnelly is repaying his election obligations to Luecke-Land (South Bend’s Mayor Luecke), the West Side Democratic Club and his alma mater Notre Dame?

Earmarks are financial appropriations approved by Congressional backroom deals with little or no legislative oversight and are a huge drain on the taxpayer’s of the 2nd Congressional District’s pocketbook. If Donnelly’s Pork is really providing value, why are the voters not thoroughly informed?”


In the Friday June 13th issue of the Tribune the letter was published, but edited as follows:

“Why is it so difficult to secure details surrounding Earmarks attributed to our Congressman? I submitted a request to The Tribune for a story on this subject and directly contacted Congressman Joe Donnelly’s Washington Office deleted to no avail. I was called by one of his assistants and referred to a confusing web site that required computer expertise beyond my talents.

USA Today last December reported that Congressman Donnelly delivered over $9,600,000 in Pork Barrel funds to the 2nd Congressional District. deleted remainder of paragraph

Earmarks are financial appropriations approved by Congressional backroom deals with little or no legislative oversight and are a huge drain on the taxpayer’s of the 2nd Congressional District’s pocketbook. If Donnelly’s Pork is really providing value, why are the voters not thoroughly informed?”


I feel that I have a right to my opinion and that The Tribune is going soft on our local politicians. Recently it was reported by The Tribune that Congressman Donnelly had delivered over $900,000 to the new Notre Dame Nanotechnology facility for laboratory equipment. I think that the Lab’s potential to deliver huge technological financial benefits and patents are very likely, but why should the taxpayers foot the bill when Notre Dame and the Lab’s participating investors will benefit significantly from any subsequent inventions and/or breakthroughs. Notre Dame is sitting on a massive endowment fund of about $6,500,000.00 and can well afford to finance their new buildings and endeavors.

Maybe I am being oversensitive, but it seems to me that Congressman Donnelly is abusing his position to support his Alma Mater. Why are we being required to financially fund entities whose pockets are already stuffed within a tax-free educational environment? In my humble opinion, I believe Congressman Donnelly and most of his fellow elected officials are blatantly exploiting their positions of power with their ability to dip their hands into our national treasury without any oversight.

COMMANDER GRANGER