Congressman Flake Pleased That Democrats Change Course on Earmark Plan
Future Spending Bills Will Include Earmarks Prior to House Consideration
Washington, D.C.,
Jun 13, 2007 -
Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today was pleased that House Democratic Leadership has ceded to Republican complaints regarding House Appropriations Chairman David Obey’s plan to add earmarks to spending bills only after the House has passed the bills.
The agreement, as understood, calls for Democrats to move ahead this week on two spending bills not traditionally vehicles for egregious earmarks, homeland security appropriations and military construction appropriations, under earmark reform rules passed last Congress. This will allow for a point of order on earmarks that are air-dropped into conference reports.
The House Appropriations Committee will attach earmarks to the remaining appropriations bills before consideration on the House floor, which will allow Members to attempt to strike out individual earmarks.
“I’m pleased that the Democrats have come around on the issue, however begrudgingly,” said Flake.
“Both transparency and accountability are necessary for earmark reform to be meaningful. Keeping earmarks secret until conference committees meet didn’t achieve either goal. This new plan should take us closer in that direction.”
Last year, Congressman Flake offered 39 amendments to strike earmarks from appropriations bill. He will offer similar amendments this year.
