Sep 23 Tinklenberg To Team With Jim Oberstar On Earmark Reform

Monday afternoon, I posted my notes from Monday's candidate forum on transportation issues hosted by the Minnesota Transportation Alliance at St. Cloud's Kelly Inn. Rob Jacobs provided the most astonishing quote of the day when he admitted that "I'm not a transportation expert so I won't pretend to be."

That said, I could make a powerful case that El Tinklenberg's statement that he'd go to Washington and "work with my good friend Jim Oberstar" on earmark reform was the most astonishing quote of the day.

First off, thinking that a lobbyist working with an entrenched incumbent who's used to getting lots of earmarks will result in true earmark reform doesn't pass the laugh test. Mr. Tinklenberg is right that we need greater transparency in earmarks. It isn't possible to picture such a man as leading the charge against K Street.

I can't picture him taking on John Murtha, David Obey and Jim Oberstar on earmark transparency. That group wants to airdrop a few hundred (thousand?) earmarks into a conference report without disclosing their requests. Does that trio sound like they're interested in transparency?

It's worth noting that Mr. Tinklenberg said that he looks forward to working with Rep. Oberstar on next year's Transportation reauthorization bill. That's a Republican's worst nightmare. You'd see more pork in CD-6 than at a bacon and eggs brunch.

That's quid pro quo you could bet on.

Comments welcome at LFR.