Moran Pushes for Sunshine and Accountability on Earmarks

Moran Pushes for Sunshine and Accountability on Earmarks

Funding Requests for Home State Projects Should be Open for Debate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jerry Moran today announced his support for legislation that would change rules in the U.S. House of Representatives to require all taxpayer-funded earmarks - funding requests for home state projects - to be subject to debate and challenge in the House. While the House has brought more transparency to the earmark process in the annual legislation that funds the federal government, current rules do not allow Members to dispute earmarks inserted into non-spending bills.

"The earmark system should not be a process closed off to review and scrutiny," Moran said. "It is only right that Kansans know how their dollars are being spent. The spending habits of Congress are out of control. By bringing needed accountability into the earmark process, my hope is that we can reduce overall government spending."

House leadership is blocking a vote on H. Res. 479 that would allow Members of Congress from both parties to challenge and debate all earmarks on the floor of the U.S. House. Republican members of the House are circulating a petition to force leadership to allow a vote on the bill. Moran, along with nearly 200 other members, has signed the petition. To be successful, the petition must be signed by 218 members.

Source