October 24, 2008 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to bring transparency and accountability to the earmark process, Congressman Bill Sali introduced landmark legislation that would require full and immediate public disclosure when Members seek congressionally-directed spending allocations.

“Earmarks have become a means of what amounts to ‘secret’ spending.  While some programs are very worthwhile, there is no reason why the taxpayers can’t learn what they are and how much they would cost right from the get-go,” Sali said.  “I believe that full and real-time disclosure would have a cleansing affect on the earmark process and encourage greater fiscal responsibility on the part of Congress.” 

The Sali earmark plan, H.Res. 1515, would:

-       Require that an online and searchable list of all appropriations in the bill (certified by the committee chairman) be posted on the Clerk’s website 48 hours prior to a vote on the House Floor.  (This same information must simultaneously be submitted for printing in the Congressional Record.)

-       Require Members to provide information to the chairman which would then be posted online reflecting the names of any individuals or entities who received an earmark or gave a campaign contribution to the Member within 18 months prior to submission of the request by the Member.

-       Prevent the House from considering an earmark that:

• Is not included in the online searchable list (certified by the committee chairman) posted on the Clerk’s Website;
• Is not included in the joint explanatory statement for conference reports; 
• Is sought by an individual who was employed by the Member within the prior 18 months;
• Would financially benefit the Member, family member or any staff employed by that Member; or
• Would benefit any entity that was established by or at the request or with the assistance of the Member.

“The transparency guidelines set forth in my bill won’t allow for earmark requests to slip through the cracks without careful examination prior to a vote.  The bottom line is that in our current financial situation, we need to be frugal in our spending requests and my legislation is instrumental in aiding fiscal responsibility,” concluded Sali.

H.Res 1515 has 3 cosponsors: U.S. Reps. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Pete Sessions (R-TX) and House Republican Study Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).