Kirk fights pork, wasteful spending

The federal budget deficit is projected to reach $500 billion this year.

We're essentially putting $500 billion on the national credit card. And most of the people in Washington don't seem to see a problem with this.

We need legislators with fiscal discipline. Thankfully, here in the 10th District, we have one in Mark Kirk.

From his position on the appropriations committee Congressman Kirk tirelessly fights to strip pork from the federal budget and reduce spending.

In 2006, he took on the powerful Republican Sen. Ted Stevens over the $300 million "bridge to nowhere" that Stevens wanted to build and name after himself. Kirk won and the bridge to nowhere was killed.

This year Mark Kirk stood up and asked why, in a year of record high food prices, Congress was voting to spend $270 billion in farm subsidies. And Kirk was the first member of the Appropriations Committee to completely swear off earmarks until the process can be reformed.

Many politicians talk about the need to end wasteful government spending. They have to; voters are fed up. But all too often, even though they talk a good game on reducing spending, when the time comes to dole out the pork, they're right there clamoring for their share.

Kirk is special because he backs up his words with action.

He pledged to fight waste and he did. He promised to swear off earmarks and he has. His willingness to practice what he preached has earned him my trust and my vote.

Jonathan Adair

Buffalo Grove