Earmarks & AppropriationsEarmarks & Appropriations

Congressional earmarks are one of the best examples of how Congress’ appetite for parochial spending led the nation into our current budgetary hole. Too often, lawmakers have based federal spending decisions on the needs of narrow private interests, rather than appropriating funds...More

only for effective, efficient programs that deliver taxpayers the greatest value. Though technically banned, earmark spending still exists in different forms, and is just one of many ways Congress sidesteps responsible budgeting and spending.

Although Congress is responsible for our nation’s finances, it continues to fail in its national budgeting, as evidenced by a national debt larger than our entire economy. The way forward lies in the legislative and executive branches working together to establish clear and transparent criteria and metrics for spending. They must ensure that all spending decisions are based on merit, competition, or well-designed and effective formulas.

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All the latest content from TCS in Earmarks & Appropriations
Letters & Testimony

Fiscal Conservatives Urge Open Rule for Defense Spending Bill

July 16, 2013

Fiscal Conservatives Urge Open Rule for Defense Spending Bill   July 22, 2013 Dear Speaker Boehner, We understand that the House of... Read More

Letters & Testimony

Fiscal Conservative Organizations Outraged at Farm Bill Process

June 19, 2013

Fiscal Conservative Organizations Outraged at Farm Bill Process Today, TCS joined other fiscal conservative organizations expressing outrage at the farm bill process. ... Read More

Our Take

Energy and Water Spending Bill Passes Subcommittee

June 18, 2013

Energy and Water Spending Bill Passes Subcommittee The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies voted today to pass the fiscal year 2014 Energy... Read More

Event Summary

TCS Presents “Subsidizing Small Modular Reactors”

May 30, 2013

TCS Presents “Subsidizing Small Modular Reactors” Taxpayers for Common Sense was invited today to present on federal taxpayer subsidies and liabilities surrounding small modular nuclear... Read More

Our Take

Disaster Reforms for Resiliency

May 21, 2013

Disaster Reforms for Resiliency Over the past decade, extreme weather and storms have become increasingly commonplace – including coastal storms, wildfires, droughts, and... Read More

Letters & Testimony

Costly Water Projects Bill Demands Scrutiny

April 10, 2013

Costly Water Projects Bill Demands Scrutiny Taxpayers for Common Sense and eight other organizations allied on this issue urge scrutiny of S.601, the Water Resources Development Act of 2013... Read More

More in-depth material from TCS in Earmarks & Appropriations
Reports & Data

Sandy Supplemental Data

February 12, 2013

Sandy Supplemental Data As Washington debates the merits of a supplemental spending bill in response to superstorm Sandy, this database lists of all the spending in... Read More

Reports & Data

Analysis of Selected Provisions in Hurricane Sandy Emergency Spending Proposals

December 17, 2012 > Updated: January 10, 2013

Analysis of Selected Provisions in Hurricane Sandy Emergency Spending Proposals Update January 10, 2013: We’ve combed through the House Appropriations Chairman Rogers Sandy Supplemental bill (HR 152 and his amendment... Read More

Fact Sheet

Evolution of Earmarks

November 07, 2012

Evolution of Earmarks Evolution of Earmarks and Earmark Disclosure in Recent Years... Read More

Reports & Data

Earmark Data

November 07, 2012

Earmark Data Even under an existing moratorium, earmarks have received a lot of attention in the media, in Congress, and around the water cooler in... Read More

TCS appearances in the media in Earmarks & Appropriations

Trinity Uptown Bridges in Fort Worth Will Initially Span Dirt, Not Water

September 16, 2013 | Fort Worth Star Telegram

FORT WORTH — They’re not exactly bridges to nowhere, but when three new bridges in Fort Worth’s massive Trinity Uptown project are complete... Read More

Op-Ed: Divide and Conquer: Turning Us Against Them

September 16, 2013 | Bucks County Courier Times

The lead story in the Dec. 14, 2009 edition of the Washington Post began: “The Senate cleared for Obama’s signature on Sunday a $447 billion... Read More

Q&A: The Lowdown on the Shutdown, or Why You Should Care About the CR

September 13, 2013 | CNN

Washington (CNN) -- In less than a month, the government may shut down. Lines are being drawn. Vacations are being canceled. Friends are... Read More

Congress’ Massive To-Do List

September 11, 2013 | U.S. News & World Report

Congress came back to town this week and there is plenty to do in the brief time both chambers are in session during September. First,... Read More

Mitch McConnell’s Close Ties with Humana Founder

September 10, 2013 | Politico

In 2005, David A. Jones Sr., founder of health insurance giant Humana Inc., needed help raising money for a Louisville, Ky., parks project... Read More

Weekly Wastebasket

Our weekly reality-check for federal spending. View All

August 23, 2013

Task Forced To Dos

This week, the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force released their report on the rebuilding effort, lessons... Read More