For Immediate Release
January 28, 2008 |
Contact: Steve Ellis
202-546-8500 x126 |
TCS STATEMENT ON EARMARK REFORMS IN STATE OF THE UNION
Washington, D.C. - The President will announce major earmark reforms in tonight’s State of the Union address. First, that he will veto any FY09 spending bill that does not halve earmarks from FY08 levels. Second, that he will sign Executive Order that starting in FY09, directs federal agencies to ignore earmarks that are in the reports accompanying the bills, but not in bill text.
Taxpayers for Common Sense’s initial analysis of the FY08 spending bills found at least 11,145 earmarks worth $15.3 billion.
Ms. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense is available (to schedule broadcast and print interviews, please call 202-546-8500 x 126) to react to the proposed earmark reforms. The following is a written statement for the record:
“By not including this year’s spending bills, the President is passing the buck on reigning in earmarks. As a lame duck, it’s unlikely that the President will even see any of the spending bills that he wants to fix before he leaves the Oval Office. So, the promise to veto FY09 spending bills that don’t cut earmarks in half from FY08 levels becomes little more than an empty threat because Congress can just run out the clock on him. More importantly, by not including the 2008 spending bills, the Executive Order gives Congress months to finagle their way around these changes.”
“The fact is we have made progress on reforming earmarks. Projects are down and the system is more transparent that it has ever been. Rather than leave the decision to future administrations, the President needs to tell taxpayers the next concrete steps this administration will take to build on the changes made this year and further restrict earmarks this year and in the future.” |
