Call for a Ban on Earmarks
Coloradans know that the way Washington spends money is broken. And one part of that problem is Congress’s addiction to earmarks. I’ve long pushed for reforms that would help rein in spending, such as a line-item veto authority, pay-as-you-go spending, and a reform of the earmark process. When I first got to the U.S. Senate, I made the choice to not request earmarks for private for-profit and nonprofit entities in an effort to take the corrupting influence out of the process. But further action is needed.
Last year, Congress spent roughly $16 billion on earmarks, according to government watchdogs. While that’s a small part of the budget, we’ve become so focused on pet projects, that holding government accountable and being good stewards of the public dollar seem to be an afterthought. In fact, lawmakers are so afraid of losing earmarked funding that they’re often pressured into supporting a vicious cycle of increased spending. The only way we can reform the status quo is if everyone takes responsibility for the problem. As a result, not only will I no longer request earmarks, I’m going to work to end the process so that Congress can focus on what Americans want most – a secure economic future.
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