With Support Of Government Reform Advocates, Gillibrand Calls On Senate Majority Leader Reid To Bring Her Earmark Transparency Bill For A Vote, Make Congress More Accountable To Southern Tier Families

Press Release

Tired of business as usual in Washington D.C., U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today at the Broome County Public Library announced a new effort to make Congress more transparent and accountable, urging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to bring her legislation that makes the federal earmark process fully transparent up for a vote on the Senate floor. With the support of Common Cause and the Sunlight Foundation, Senator Gillibrand made her official pitch in a letter to the Senate Majority Leader to pass her bill that is co-sponsored by 17 Republican and 10 Democratic Senators.

On a bipartisan vote of 11-5, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee last month passed the legislation that Senator Gillibrand wrote with Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK), John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) to require all lawmakers to post their earmark requests online.

"I haven't been in Washington long, but it doesn't take long to know exactly what's wrong with it," Senator Gillibrand said. "Everyday people are not being heard because too much business is happening behind closed doors. Too often the system only benefits the special interests that have way too much power. My agenda puts the interests of families before all else by making government more transparent and accountable. My reform agenda ends automatic pay raises for members of Congress, reins in special interest influence on our elections, forbids Senators from anonymously obstructing legislation, and makes the federal funding request process fully transparent so citizens can judge for themselves how politicians are spending their money."

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