EDITORIAL: Keep An Eye On The Pork
Advocate (excerpt)

In a budget that involves huge cutbacks in state spending across a range of programs, a small statement on behalf of the taxpayers’ interest should be noted. Gov. Bobby Jindal proposed funding no “member amendments” in the budget bill. These are the often-small appropriations for political gain by influential lawmakers. If there is any credibility in the Legislature about priorities, it begins with keeping the political pork out of the budget bill. But when the Legislature gets the budget bill, don’t count on historic revenue shortfalls to cut the demand for political spending.

Last year’s cost-cutting commission, heavily influenced by legislative leaders, rejected a proposal to impose a moratorium on “member amendments” in the coming fiscal year, beginning July 1.

(W)atch out for member amendments. Whatever the amount, they are like an anti-body test for a disease, and that is politics. Legislators, particularly the leadership, cannot pretend to be serious about budget reduction if they litter this year’s budget with political pork.