I have to give grudging acknowledgment to the efforts of Congressman Jeff Flake. Who, according to one headline, is “still preaching against earmarks.”

There are many ways office-holders can throw money at various groups to try to build their power base. Earmarks are just one of them. But as cozy bribes go, they are pretty blatant.

Still, no matter how blatant an abuse of power, many incumbents defend these special local projects ferociously. Give a multi-term congressman the satiric award of “King of Pork” and he’s likely to throw a party. “Hurrah! I’m the King of Pork! Yeah!”

Flake, on the other hand, has repeatedly gone after pork projects. But according to the Arizona Republic, “out of a total of 50 earmarks totaling more than $77 million that he challenged this year,” he managed to kill only one, a $129,000 earmark for a Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree project. So we’re stuck with deficient Christmas trees for now.

I applaud . . . but not as loudly as I might. Jeff Flake reneged on a term limit pledge. When he ran for the seat of outgoing Congressman Matt Salmon, back in 2000, he pledged to serve no more than three terms in Congress. He’s in his fourth.

Our representatives break their word all the time. But the case of Jeff Flake is particularly disappointing. He has this strong streak of good in him. But Jeff, even good people have to keep their word.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

• Episode Number: 1927
• Publication Date: 10/30/2007