Controversial Democrat Earmarks Spark Conservative Backlash In Congressional Budget

• Recent budget request contains contentious Democrat earmarks.

• Opposition from conservative groups due to LGBTQ+ and abortion allocations.

• Americans Advancing Freedom led by Mike Pence opposes earmarks.

Phillip Swagel, Director of the Congressional Budget Office, testifies during a Senate Budget Committee hearing about Social Security, July 12, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Congress

AP

The recent release of the congressional budget request has sparked controversy due to several new Democrat earmarks that have drawn criticism from conservative groups. The 1,000-page budget document, unveiled in the early hours of Thursday, includes allocations towards contentious initiatives such as LGBTQ+ facilities, a late-term abortion clinic, and what some opponents label as 'gun confiscation' research.

Americans Advancing Freedom, a nonprofit organization led by former Vice President Mike Pence, expressed strong opposition to the earmarks, calling for their removal before the legislation is passed in its current form. Critics argue that funding such programs without proper scrutiny could lead to questionable expenditures and potentially harmful consequences.

One of the earmarks highlighted is a $400,000 request by Wisconsin Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin for Briarpatch Youth Services, which offers programs like 'Teens Like Us LGBTQIA2s+' and a 'Gender Affirming Clothing Program' aimed at minors. The organization's activities, including a 'pride prom' for young adolescents and connections with LGBTQ youth without parental consent, have raised concerns about the lack of parental involvement in such initiatives.

Additionally, New Jersey Democrat Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez proposed sending $400,000 to the Garden State Equality Education Fund, Inc., a prominent LGBTQ+ advocacy group that provides support services like 'binders and gaffs' for transgender individuals.

Furthermore, Rhode Island Democrat Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse requested $1.8 million for the Women and Infants Hospital in Rhode Island, known for performing elective abortions up to 22 weeks. The budget also includes a $12.5 million allocation for the National Institutes of Health's Prevent Firearm Injury and Mortality research, which aims to address firearm-related violence and its impact on public health.

As the House prepares to vote on the appropriations package, concerns persist over the potential implications of these earmarks on government funding and societal values. With ongoing debates surrounding the federal budget deficit and national debt, the inclusion of these controversial allocations adds another layer of complexity to the budgetary process.