Boehner Charges Democratic Leaders with Gutting Republican Earmark Reforms

Via email:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) charged Democrats with backtracking on earmarks and gutting the reforms implemented by Republicans last year. Yesterday Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) announced he would allow Members to “read the bills” and “write the committee” to inquire about earmarks but would refuse to allow the House to debate or vote to remove wasteful earmarks from appropriations bills. Boehner issued the following statement:

“This latest move by House Democrats guts the reforms Republicans implemented last year, which gave members the right to challenge individual earmarks on the House floor. The Democrats seem intent on moving the earmark process behind closed doors and making it impossible for any member to challenge wasteful earmarks. The American people expect greater transparency and accountability in how their taxpayer dollars are spent, and they support the rights of members to challenge wasteful spending on the House floor.

“By withholding all earmarks until the last second Democrats are hiding wasteful spending from the American people. This is a sham and a brazen attempt to protect pork-barrel spending. This makes a mockery of the Democrats’ pledge to make the appropriations process more open and transparent, and Republicans will fight at every opportunity to force the majority to restore the reforms we enacted last year.”

NOTE: After announcing that he would refuse to allow members to challenge individual earmarks on the House floor and instead air-drop them in conference reports, Chairman Obey told Congressional Quarterly yesterday about his latest plan on earmarks: “Members will be able to write this committee if they have any objection to an earmark the conference committee is putting in, and the sponsor of that earmark will have an opportunity to respond to any criticism.”

The Wisconsin State Journal today wrote an editorial criticizing Obey for the move, saying: “With this maneuver, Obey would enhance his own power but prevent the public and most lawmakers from questioning earmarks until it is too late.”