Democrats continue to mismanage America’s finances. Last week, I voted against a reckless government spending bill that was packed with pork.

Elections have consequences, and with Democrats in charge in Congress, they’ve brought back “Congressionally directed spending.” In other words: earmarks.

The $1.5 trillion spending behemoth I voted against included 367 pages of pet projects, totaling more than $8 billion. And with the midterms right around the corner, vulnerable Democrats walked away with the largest sums.

• $1.6 million in taxpayer funding went to the development of “equitable growth of shellfish aquaculture” in Rhode Island.
• New York took $500,000 for swimming lessons and aerobics.
• California will get a history museum to the tune of $3 million.

These totally unnecessary expenditures are a slap in the face to taxpayers across Idaho.

Democrats need to get their spending under control, and Congress should abandon earmarks and treat taxpayer dollars with the respect they deserve.