Rep. Ron Paul has become known as Dr. No.  There aren’t many government programs that he likes.  During the 1990′s and the 2000′s the Republicans have been a party of hypocrites for requesting billions of dollars of pork-barrel projects while claiming to be fiscally conservative.

The tables have turned.  Even though the Republicans are still hypocrites, they are at least trying to impose a unilateral earmark moratorium.  Rep. Paul is one of a handful of Republicans that have ignored party leadership and asked for earmarks.   According to Roll Call:

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has been known to say “no” to party leadership frequently during the libertarian icon’s 11 terms in the House. But his recent decision to reject the House GOP’s earmark ban by requesting 41 projects totaling more than $100 million for his Congressional district may not be excused.

Paul is one of a handful of Members to publicly challenge the House GOP leadership by going forward with earmark requests just two weeks after the Republican Conference adopted a one-year moratorium on the spending practice.

Imposing a one year earmark moratorium is one of the few things that the Republican leadership has gotten right.  This is the wrong time for Rep. Paul to buck his party leadership.

Filed under: Appropriations, Deficit, Earmarks