Congresswoman Bachmann has admitted that when she took office, she placed earmarks for her state and district. She asserts that these were small amounts of money compared to normal congressional earmarking. By 2008, she had sworn off the process of earmarking noting that the practice was corrupt. She stated that the process has no standards, no transparency, and no restraint. She joined a group of Congressmen who pledged not to take earmarks. In 2010, she supported a Republican led effort to place a ban on earmarks.
However, in 2009 Congresswoman Bachmann wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack supporting a move made by the Obama administration to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the pork industry. The pork industry was undergoing financial difficulty due to a slowing economy and swine flu outbreaks.
Congresswoman Bachmann strongly opposed the DISCLOSE Act, stating that the measure prevented free speech.
Pledge Against Pork
In March of 2008, Congresswoman Bachmann released a statement noting a pledge that she took not to use the earmark process. She stated that there are no standards, no transparency, and no restraint, and that earmarks are disbursed without regard to merit, based solely on partisanship and winks and nods.
Bachmann Takes Pledge Against Pork Joins House Reformers in Fighting for Standards, Transparency
Washington, Mar 21, 2008 -
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, one of about 2 dozen House Members who pledged not to participate in the broken earmark process released the following statement:
“Americans are tired of seeing Congress spend their hard-earned tax dollars as though it were monopoly money. And one of the most egregious areas of abuse is the practice of earmarking—better known to the American people as pork barrel spending. Simply put, the current earmark system is broken beyond repair.
“There are no standards, no transparency, no restraint. Earmarks are disbursed without regard to merit, based solely on partisanship and winks and nods. Instead of being a tool to fulfill the legitimate duties of government, earmarking has become another tool in Washington politics.
“The time is long overdue for change. But until Members of Congress draw a line in the sand business will continue as usual.
“That is why I have joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in pledging not to seek earmarks this year, while we fight to reform this dysfunctional system. Hopefully, our stand against the status quo will help motivate the Democrat leadership to start respecting the American taxpayer and deliver the change they have demanded.”
Fox News Appearance
In March of 2009, Congresswoman Bachmann appeared on Fox News and spoke about the earmark pledge she has taken and her view that it is corrupt. She states that in her first session in the House, she did place some earmarks which amounted to a small dollar amount. She states that she has seen how corrupt the process has become and has pledged to abstain from earmarks.
Support for Pork
In 2009, the Pork industry was having financial difficulty due to both the swine flu and the overall economic downturn. The Obama administration decided to inject millions of dollars into the industry. In March 2009, the USDA purchased $25 million in pork, in April it made a $50 million purchase and in July it bought 775,000 pounds of ham, according to reports. In September, just one month before receiving Bachmann's letter, Vilsack had signed off on $30 million in additional federal purchases of pork. (As per HuffPo) Congresswoman Bachmann wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack praising the move.
Your efforts to stabilize prices through direct government purchasing of pork and dairy products are very much welcomed by the producers in Minnesota, and I would encourage you to take any additional steps necessary to prevent further deterioration of these critical industries, such as making additional commodity purchases and working to expand trade outlets for these and other agricultural goods
Opposition to the DISCLOSE Act
In June of 2010, Congresswoman Bachmann wrote an op-ed discussing the recent vote on the DISCLOSE Act and her opposition to the legislation.
So Much for the First Amendment 6/24/2010 | Email Michele Bachmann | All Posts By Blogger
Today, Democrats in the House narrowly passed their controversial DISCLOSE Act to counter a recent Supreme Court decision regarding campaign contributions. This bill is designed to block organizations from engaging in political debate before the upcoming elections by requiring them to comply with cumbersome, costly disclosure requirements and restrictions.
The Democrats' bill blatantly restricts political free speech, but at the same time, brings out the worst in politics by exempting political allies and special interest groups from the law. Whether you agree with the intention of the bill or not, its backroom deals like the ones contained in this bill for labor unions and other special interest groups that really rile up the American people.
Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) made an excellent point after the passing of the bill:
"The Constitution states that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. It does not say ‘unless Democrats want to protect themselves from criticism.’ The majority is blatantly ignoring the Constitution in an attempt to silence those who disagree with their radical agenda.”
The President had this to say about the legislation:
"I congratulate the House of Representatives on today's passage of the DISCLOSE Act, a critical piece of legislation to control the flood of special interest money into our elections..."
Mr. President, it does control the flood of special interest money into our elections, but for the benefit of one political party at the expense of another and our constitution. We deserve better than this.
Support for Earmark Ban
In November of 2010, Congresswoman Bachmann released a press statement noting her support for the GOP decision to support a ban on earmarks.
Bachmann Praises GOP Senators’ Decision to Support an Earmark Ban
Washington, Nov 16, 2010 -
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) issued the following statement in light of Senator Mitch McConnell’s announcement that Senate Republicans would be joining the House Republican Conference in self-enacting an earmark moratorium:
“I praise Senate Republicans for committing to an earmark ban like the House Republicans did earlier this year. Earmarks are part of the root problem with Washington’s spending addiction. Members have far too frequently sought favor with their districts by dropping frivolous earmarks in the dead of night into spending bills. Funding requests should be given ample opportunity to be scrutinized by the American people as we move into the new Congress.”
Voting Record
The DISCLOSE Act
In June of 2010, the House voted to pass the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act or the DISCLOSE Act. It passed 219-206. Michele Bachmann voted against the DISCLOSE Act.
