Lewis Wants to Bring Back Earmarks: 2012 Primary Challenge?

“The Minority Maker,” as the Wall Street Journal dubbed him in a 2006 story, has been a controversial figure in San Bernardino County since his election to the House of Representatives in 1978.  From the affair with his secretary whom he eventually married after divorcing his wife to an ongoing federal probe, this moderate politician in conservative clothing has done more to run up the national debt than his Democratic counterparts in the adjoining district, George Brown and Joe Baca, combined.

Currently hailing from the Republican old money city of Redlands, Congressman Jerry Lewis has pulled the wool over many an eye with his “conservative” mantra but his voting record on fiscal matters has exposed his true agenda.  As a member and former chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Lewis has become known as Capitol Hill’s King of Payoffs.

The Wall Street Journal reported on September 24, 2010:

House Republicans agreed to a one-year moratorium on all earmarks in March, on the same day that House Democrats, who have been more circumscribed in their approach, agreed to ban earmarks that would benefit for-profit companies. A Senate bill to impose a similar one-year moratorium failed by a large margin, when 15 Republicans voted against it.

Among those in the pro-earmark camp is California Rep. Jerry Lewis, who would likely take over as chairman of the Appropriations Committee if the Republicans regain a House majority. In 2009, Mr. Lewis secured 50 earmarks for his district, worth $82 million, according to the nonpartisan Taxpayers for Common Sense.

In all, Congress last year approved 9,499 earmarks for local projects worth nearly $16 billion, about 1.2% of the $1.36 trillion the government spent on all discretionary programs.

Mr. Lewis defends the earmark practice as a direct form of democracy, and is among a sizable number of GOP lawmakers who want the party’s self-imposed ban to end.

“I think that members have the right to represent their constituents, and know better than the bureaucracy does on what the real priorities are for taxpayers’ money,” Mr. Lewis said in an interview.

Lewis was first appointed to the House Appropriations Committee in 1980, less than two years after being elected to Congress.  Between 1984 and 1988 he won three leadership positions, the House Republican Conference, the House Republican Research Committee, and the House Republican Policy Committee.

By the late 1980s, Lewis was thought to have a good shot at becoming House minority leader.  However, a group of young conservatives led by Newt Gingrich opposed him for his liberal views and cooperation with Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee.

Lewis decided not to run for the House minority whip position in 1989 and lost to Dick Armey by one vote in a contest for House GOP Conference chair in 1992.  However, once Republicans regained control of the House in 1994, Lewis became chairman of the VA-HUD Appropriations subcommittee.

In 1999, he became chairman of the Appropriations Defense subcommittee where he fought to eliminate funding for the F-22 fighter jet.  He remained chairman of the subcommittee for a number of years  during which he was able to achieve smooth passage of defense appropriations after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Lewis became chairman of the House Appropriations Committee in 2004 after he was able to deliver $1.35 million in contributions to fellow Republican candidates.  As chairman he streamlined operations, reducing the number of subcommittees from 13 to 10 (there are now 12 under current leadership).  He was not able to provide leadership enough to reduce the federal debt, instead choosing to continue with his addiction to earmarks and spending.

Lewis remained chairman of the House Appropriations Committee only two years.  He lost the position in 2006 when the Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives.  As the Wall Street Journal wrote at the time:

This one [fiasco] is all about Republicans and their refusal to give up their power to spend money at will and pass out “earmarks” like a bartender offering drinks on the house. The chief culprits are the House Appropriators, led by Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis of California and his 13 subcommittee chairmen known as “cardinals.” If Republicans lose the House — and they are well on their way — Mr. Lewis deserves the moniker of the minority maker.

Sources suggest that the Club for Growth, the Tea Party and other conservative groups are looking to fund a primary challenge to Lewis in 2012. The Club for Growth spent millions in the 2010 primary election cycle to defeat RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) and send a loud and clear message to deficit-spending Republicans.

As we all know now, the Wall Street Journal was right on the money.  Voters showed their disgust with the status quo and the Democrats have enjoyed control of the House ever since.  So as Republicans work fervently to regain the House majority, Lewis is counteracting their efforts.  He is the Minority Maker.