Hoffman right about the cost of earmarks

In reference to a recent article, "Earmarks — a campaign issue, " Rep. Bill Owens stated that earmarks represent less than 1 percent of last year's budget. One percent of a trillion dollars is a lot of money and who pays for it? Taxes will go up for decades, impeding our children and grandchildren. Try doing the math. Don't know what an earmark is? Use Google.

In the last election, Doug Hoffman, a committed conservative Republican, was the only voice speaking of the enormous cost that earmarks cause. His judgment was and is based on his years of accounting practice and as comptroller of the 1980 Olympics. He understands that you can't spend money you don't have without serious consequences.

As was explained in the Times article, congressional members have ample time and opportunity to talk with agency heads about programs which would benefit their districts. The agencies could weigh the merits of each project and make selections which would be presented with their budgets.

On a side note, I was one of the hundreds of thousands who attended the Restore Honor rally in Washington. As we were waiting for the bus, Mr. Hoffman walked among us talking to all of us. With the responsibility of running a campaign, working full time, say nothing of needed rest time, Mr. Hoffman traveled from Saranac Lake to give us a warm send off and a thank you for being involved in our country's future. What a surprise. Mr. Hoffman is a remarkable but humble person who will represent us well as our Republican candidate for Congress.

Don't forget to vote Tuesday.

Carol Tesch

Watertown