Earmark ban quote of the day

Rep.-elect Renee Ellmers of North Carolina:

...said she would have to look at each proposal closely before deciding whether it merits support despite an earmark ban.

"That's the hard question," she said.

"What exactly are these projects? Are they really needed? And is it going to benefit the people of North Carolina? If it's going to be a good expenditure of taxpayer money, I will go to bat for it."

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/26/826629/federal-earmark-ban-still-fluid.html#ixzz16Oiditvr

How about a new baseline of $100,000* to kick in the requirement for benefit-cost analysis of government projects? This would accomplish two worthy goals: reduce spending on bogus projects (as fewer bogus projects will be proposed and those bogus projects proposed will generate negative net benefits) and increase employment opportunities for economists.

*What is the baseline now? $100 million?