Emerson's out-of-state earmarks

Let's re-evaluate congressional earmarks. Used to help local governments with projects, earmarks also fund private nonprofit organizations as well. Our own representative appropriated for two organizations outside Missouri.

The Congressional Hunger Fund is a scholarship program for post-graduate college students who "study" the hungry, not feed them. Originally a federal program eliminated by Congress, Bill Emerson converted it into a nonprofit organization.

Jo Ann Emerson is now co-chair of the board of directors. Fellow directors include notables like Sen. Al Franken. For the 2010 budget, she requested $3 million in taxpayer dollars to support this D.C.-based organization.

In a another instance, she requested $500,000 in taxpayer dollars for the New York City-based Girl Scouts of America to start a completely new program on "financial literacy."

We are going broke. Neither earmark was worth risking our grandchildren's financial future.

Information on these earmarks can be found at http://www.house.gov/emerson/agriculture2.shtml and http://www.house.gov/emerson/financial2.shtml.

Visit larrybill.com.

LARRY BILL, 2543 Prairie View Trail, Jackson, MO 63755

Committee to Elect Lawrence David Bill for Congress, Daniel Ray Brown, Treasurer, 2543 Prairie View Trail, Jackson, MO 63755