July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

An earmark that doesn't stink (03/12/2009)

Editorial

Goodness knows, there's never a shortage of pork to make fun of in the federal budget.

But it still makes sense to do your homework before spouting off.

Sen. John McCain was reminded of that lesson again this week.

The Republican presidential nominee, who has a long and admirable track record as a critic of questionable federal spending, zinged the latest spending bill for including $1.7 million for hog odor research.

The money was in the form of an earmark, and McCain has been a constant critic of earmarks.

But sometimes earmarks make sense, and it appears this is one of them.

As anyone in a CAFO county can tell you, hog odor is occasionally a problem.

And both CAFO operators and their neighbors will tell you that there would be less friction if scientists could figure out ways to control or reduce the smell.

Purdue University has conducted research on the topic, and the money in the spending bill was intended for the Swine Odor and Manure Management Research Unit at a Department of Agriculture Research facility in Ames, Iowa.

The funding had been stripped out of the spending bill last year by the Bush Administration, and Iowans wanted it put back in because they view the research as important.

Sometimes, the folks who want to insert an earmark are closer to their constituents than the people making policy in Washington. Are earmarks subject to abuse? You bet.

But sometimes they make sense.

And as Sen. McCain was reminded this week, it always makes sense to do your homework. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
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