Jack Kingston

Earmark Reform Press Conference Earmark Reform Press Conference Related Documents One Pager on H Con Res 263 H Con Res 263 Republican Conference Letter to Speaker Pelosi Endorsing H Con Res 263 and Adopting Earmark Standards

Washington, Jan 25 -

Congressman Jack Kingston (GA-1) praised the action of the Republican Conference on earmark reform.  The Conference voted to make reform a top priority adopting a set of guidelines and H Con Res 263 authored by Kingston and fellow appropriators Frank Wolf (VA-10) and Zach Wamp (TN-03) which calls for a Joint Select Committee on Earmark Reform and a moratorium until additional guidelines are recommended.

"We lost the majority because spending got out of hand.  Today's action shows that we are ready to impose new discipline on the budget process," Kingston said.  "We need the Democrats to join us in this effort and earn some integrity back in Washington."

The Kingston/Wolf/Wamp legislation calls for a Joint Select Committee on Earmark Reform composed of 16 members equally appointed by the majority and minority parties of each house of Congress to study earmarks of all kinds.  While the committee conducts its study, no earmarks, congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits or limited tariff benefits could be considered until the report is filed.

In addition to the provisions of H Con Res 263, the Republican Conference adopted the following standards for all earmarks:

• No more "monuments to me."  Lawmakers should not use taxpayer money to fund projects named after themselves.
• No more "airdrops."  The process by which Congress spends the American people's money should be completely transparent.  Members of Congress should not circumvent transparency by airdropping earmarks into bills in conference at the last minute.
• No more "fronts" or "pass-through" entities. Taxpayer funds should not be laundered through "front" operations that mask their true recipients.
• Members of Congress who request earmarks should put forth a plan detailing exactly how the money will be spent and why they believe the use of taxpayer funding is justified.  Members of Congress who "secure" earmarks should place these plans in the Congressional Record well in advance of floor votes on those earmarks.
• To improve accountability, Members of Congress should require outside earmark recipients to put up "matching funds" where applicable so that American taxpayers do not bear all the risk for such expenditures.
• The Executive Branch should be held accountable for its own earmark practices.  The Executive Branch asks for earmarks, too, and has done so under administrations Democratic and Republican alike.  Members of Congress should hold present and future Administrations accountable for the way in which taxpayer-funded earmarks are used.

###