Congress’s “Earmark Reforms” Are Hoax and Mirrors; CAGW Irate Over Democratic Leadership’s Cynical Shell Game at Taxpayers’ Expense

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today blasted the Senate leadership for its recent furtive attempts to roll back and undermine the earmark transparency and accountability provisions of S. 1, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, which was signed into law two weeks ago. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is claiming that only earmarks included in appropriations bills can be subject to challenges on the Senate floor. The legislation is supposed to cover authorization and tax bills as well.

“Senate leaders are manipulating the process in order to maintain secrecy and stuff earmarks into as many bills as possible. In addition, someone is peddling pabulum to the media about a miraculous 50 percent reduction in congressional earmarks. The proof will come at the end of this process and all indications are that members of Congress, particularly the usual spendthrifts in the Senate, are getting ready to lard up federal spending bills as much as ever,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) forced the Senate leadership to divulge its position when he revealed his plans to challenge nearly $2 billion worth of earmarks added in conference to the Water Resources Development Act. According to The Hill on September 21, 2007, Senator Reid’s staff informed the parliamentarian that there should be no objections allowed for earmarks added to conference reports on authorization bills. However, the Democratic staff director of the Rules Committee said the new law applies to all bills. The parliamentarian will make the final decision.

CAGW also strongly criticized both the House and Senate for two other significant, but stealthy votes. H.R. 430, which increased the nation’s debt limit by $850 billion to $9.815 trillion, was passed without a roll call vote. This is the fifth time since 2002 that Congress has opted to raise the debt ceiling and the national debt has grown by a whopping $3 trillion during that period. Congress also quietly passed a continuing resolution to keep the government operating past its fiscal year deadline of September 30, granting itself another seven weeks, until November 16, to come to an agreement on the budget.

“So far, this Congress isn’t even close to demonstrating fiscal responsibility. Instead of doing their jobs, addressing the critical financial burdens facing the nation, members of Congress have been scrambling to find new ways to slink off with more pork. President Bush should hold the line on the $23 billion in excess spending that the Democrats are trying to shove down the taxpayers’ throats,” Schatz said.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.