Issue Position: Appropriations

Issue Position

Congressman Sessions is a strong supporter of comprehensive, meaningful Earmark Reform. He has joined his fellow House Republicans in holding his requests to a series of standards that is the basis of a coordinated Republican effort to provide increased transparency and oversight to the earmarking process.

In addition to cosponsoring the Kingston-Wolf-Wamp Earmark Reform legislation - which would impose an immediate moratorium until a bipartisan, bicameral commission reports back to Congress on how best to reform the earmark system - Congressman Sessions has committed to the following improved standards:

ü No "monuments to me." Lawmakers should not use taxpayer money to fund projects named after themselves.

ü No "airdrops." When Congress spends the American people's money, the process should be completely transparent. Members of Congress should not circumvent public disclosure by including earmarks that have not been vetted by an open legislative process into bills at the last minute.

ü No "fronts" or "pass-through" entities. Taxpayer funds should be spent for their intended purpose, not passed through "front" operations that mask their true recipients.

ü Members of Congress whose earmarks are agreed to should place a detailed plan in the Congressional Record explaining how this money will be spent and why the use of taxpayer funds is justified.

ü To improve accountability and overall project viability, 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.

ü The Executive Branch should be held accountable for its own earmark practices. The Executive Branch also asks for earmarks, and Members of Congress should hold present and future Administrations accountable for the way in which taxpayer-funded earmarks are used.

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