Boehner on Ethics and Earmark Reform

Via email:

"Republicans are committed to working with Democrats to restore trust between the American people and their elected leaders. The American people have every right to expect the highest ethical standards from their Congress, and every right to know their tax dollars are being wisely and responsibly spent.

"Last September, the House adopted comprehensive earmark reforms that required the sponsors of all earmarks to be publicly disclosed. Instead of placing language in their rules package for the new Congress that would gut these earmark reforms, as the New York Times weeks ago reported Democrats were considering, House Democrat leaders instead renewed our earmark reforms for the new Congress. We must strengthen transparency and accountability on behalf of American taxpayers, and I'm pleased that Democrat leaders agree with Republicans that earmark reform is a critical issue.

"This is an important victory for proponents of fiscal responsibility and reform - but as President Bush has already pointed out, we need to do even more. House Republicans view these developments as a hopeful sign that Democrats and Republicans can work together in the months ahead to balance the budget by 2012 and bring further accountability to the way Washington spends taxpayers' money."