Tiberi opposes earmarks; Kilroy still queen of pork

Good for Congressmen Pat Tiberi and Steve Austria:

Tiberi, elected in 2000, hasn’t gone after taxpayer dollars for central Ohio projects since 2007. Austria says he is not pursuing earmarks in his first year in office “due to the out-of-control spending that is taking place in Congress that is not focused enough on the economy and creating jobs.”

That leaves Kilroy as the main central Ohio lawmaker left to go after earmarks for projects such as Ohio State University research initiatives and local road improvements.

Tiberi in particular seems to “get it”:

Tiberi, referring to former Republican Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham of California, said “we have a congressman in jail because of the earmarking process.”

And although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was attacking earmarks in the 2006 election campaign, dozens of members are being investigated, in part related to earmarks, Tiberi added.

“We have a system that is broken,” Tiberi said. “I’m not opposed to earmarks. … But you can’t change a system if you participate in it.”

Illuminating attitudes don’t you think?  Tiberi and Austria are concerned about runaway spending and corruption while Kilroy is trying to bring as much pork home as she can.

And no matter what Kilroy says, this pork rewards political supporters a great deal more than it creates jobs.