SOUND OFF

Last week's question:

Republican U.S. Reps. Joe Pitts and Todd Platts are among those pushing for a moratorium on earmarks — taxpayer funds set aside for projects in lawmakers' jurisdictions. Do you support their stance? Why or why not?

YES — 95 percent

NO — 5 percent

YES: "I think all earmarks should be put on hold. That money should go to pay off the trillions of dollars in national debt that we are currently at. In 2000, our national debt was $5.7 trillion. That was after we paid off $2.4 trillion during that administration. Imagine that, lowering our debt. Hmmmm, what a novel idea. Today, we are $9 trillion in debt, and since September 2006, we increase that debt by $1.6 billion per day."

—Frank Rowland,

Cumberland County

YES: "My answer is yes, but not a moratorium but a halt. Let's call a spade a spade, though. Earmarks? How about pork and illegal favors or Byrdisms. I guess Eliot Spitzer ‘earmarked' $80,000 toward prostitution."

—Steve Kelly,

Cumberland County

YES: "It is unconscionable what we are doing to our children and grandchildren. Our binge spending, borrowing and interest payments are going to destroy this civilization. We have been talking about it for years. Now they are acting on it. Others should follow their example."

—Kevin Johnson,

York County

YES: "Yes. I support not only a moratorium but also an end to the practice. We as taxpayers are burdened enough! I don't think back-room deals should be made using earmarks as bargaining chips."

—Sherry Hawk,

Lancaster County

YES: "I support this bill because this is the place that the ‘roads to nowhere' funding is implanted in order to get it passed through without anyone noticing it. This will impact on some worthy organizations; however, they will need to get their requests into the proper bills clearly identifying their needs."

—Leroy M. Keeney,

York County

YES: "I believe that the present earmarking process results in legislation that has not benefited from full legislative review."

—Yale Eastman,

Lancaster County

YES: "I support Todd Platts suspending earmarks. They should be phased out permanently in Congress."

—Chris Chase,

Cumberland County

YES: "A moratorium is needed. Congress needs to begin living within a budget like those of us in ‘the real world.' Earmarks are a good place to start."

—Donald R. Simmons,

York County

This week's question:

Manufacturer BAE Systems, which posted a $1.8 billion profit in 2007, received $4.3 million from Pennsylvania to expand its York County operations. Should this state and other states offer these types of incentives to large corporations?