Emanuel, Van Hollen Announce Real Earmark Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representatives Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) announced they intend to offer an amendment to the House earmark reform legislation expected to be on the floor Thursday.  The amendment will put an end to the proliferation of unnecessary and suspect earmarks. 

            “For far too long, business as usual has involved individual members doling out favors in appropriations and other bills through earmarks,” said Emanuel. “The American people deserve to know more than who sponsored special interest legislation. They deserve earmark reform that puts an end to special interest earmarking, and provides solutions to prevent the practice of earmark abuse.”

            “We need to put an end to the rampant abuse of the earmark process,” said Van Hollen.  “Too many Members of Congress have used the system to benefit their friends and special interests at the expense of the public interest.”

            The amendment establishes the following limitations on earmarks in legislation:

• Codifies that a Member, Member’s spouse, or immediate family member cannot personally benefit from the awarding of an earmark;
  
• Prohibits Members from awarding earmarks that will benefit a registered lobbyist or former registered lobbyist who serves as chairman of the leadership political action committee of the Member requesting the earmark;
  
• Bans the awarding of earmarks to any entity that employs the spouse or immediate family member of the earmark’s sponsor, employs or is represented by a former employee of the earmark’s sponsor, or is represented by a lobbying firm that employs any spouse or close relative of the earmark’s sponsor;
  
• Provides that no tax measure may contain any provision amending Title VI of the U.S. Code to benefit one individual, corporation or entity; and
  
• Prohibits the inclusion of earmarks and other provisions in conference reports without the language having first been in either the House or Senate legislation’s original language.