Congresswoman Candice Miller
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10) today made the following statement on earmarks for the fiscal year 2011:
“Spending in Washington has gotten completely out of control. In fiscal year 2009 the federal government ran a budget deficit of over $1.4 trillion and the projected deficit for this budget year is over $1.6 trillion. In just the last year, the federal debt ceiling has been raised by $3 trillion.
“A big part of the problem has been the proliferation of earmarks which allow lawmakers to steer federal tax money to projects in their districts or to their supporters in order to secure votes. The American people have had enough.
“While I do not believe that all earmarks are bad, some provide funding for worthy projects; there is no doubt that the process is broken and many unworthy projects are still funded. That is why I have supported rules to put transparency into the earmarking process. These rules force members of Congress to put on their Web site every earmark request they submit, to declare publicly that they have no personal financial interest in those requests and to require that those earmarks be open to rescission from the bill during consideration on the House floor. These rules have been put in place, but they were largely eviscerated by the Democrat leadership last year when they took the unprecedented step to limit the number of amendments that could be offered on appropriations bills, thereby shielding countless wasteful earmarks from elimination. There is no question the process must be reformed.
“The American people want change to combat out of control wasteful spending in Washington. Unfortunately, they have not gotten the change they desire from the Democrat leadership in Congress. So now members must take the initiative to lead by example. That is why after the Democrats undercut the rules on eliminating waste last year I decided that I would forgo submitting any earmark requests for this fiscal year while we work on needed reforms.
“I was proud today to work with my Republicans colleagues to pass a conference wide one year moratorium on earmarks. This move should stand as vivid proof to the American people that Republicans are serious about bringing about needed reforms and that we are ready to lead the effort to enact those reforms. We must tackle out of control spending in Washington that is burying our children and grandchildren under a mountain of debt and with this action we are taking the necessary first step.”
###
Erin Sayago | Communications Director
Office of U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10)
Desk: 202-226-4709 | Cell: 202-257-1554
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Dear Congresswoman Miller,
Please continue your efforts to reduce the deficit and wasteful spending. Many reforms are needed. The phrase “less is more” sums it all up.
Sincerely,
Gary Tedesco