A Blimp of an Earmark

One reason why the GOP “brand” is in the toilet is the ongoing hypocrisy on everything from “family values” to “fiscal responsibility”. It’s not that Democrat behavior is that much better, but they aren’t also selling themselves as “holier than thou” on such issues.

A new entry in this unethical hypocrisy involves their anti-earmark crusade. Congressman Pete Sessions, calls earmarks “a symbol of a broken Washington”, and regularly supports amendments to strip earmarks out of appropriations bills. Yet, he continues to seek out his own earmarks, include a $1.6 million project to build blimps.

What’s even more interesting about this story is that the company was reported to the House as having an office in his district, when in fact their nearest one is 300 miles away in San Antonio, while their headquarters is near Chicago. Moreover, the company, Jim G. Ferguson & Associates, has no experience at all in government contracting or even “dirigible research”.

So how did they get an earmark to do a project they’re unqualified for by a congressman that doesn’t even represent them? A lobbyist for the company once worked for Sessions.

If you’re going to be hypocritical about your opposition to earmarks, the least you could do is not be so brazenly unethical about which earmarks you insert into a bill.