WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15) issued the following statement after voting to adopt a resolution prolonging the Republican-imposed moratorium on Congressionally-directed funding – popularly known as earmarks. With Republicans set to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in January, the moratorium will apply to all Members of Congress serving in the House during the 112th Congress:“For many Americans, the practice of earmarking exemplifies how Congress has strayed off course in its duty to responsibly allocate federal resources. I supported the moratorium adopted by the Republican Conference today because I believe it will help restore public confidence in the Congressional stewardship of tax dollars.
While the approval of this moratorium will effectively eliminate earmarks in legislation originating in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate has yet to fully embrace this necessary reform, as only Senate Republicans have adopted a moratorium for the 112th Congress. I urge Senate Democrats to follow the advice of their colleague Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and ‘get on board’. Establishing a bipartisan and bicameral moratorium would send a clear message to the American people that their Congressional representatives are committed to promoting greater fiscal responsibility.”
8 comments:
Bernie, what happened with the GEO deal tonight?
Just posted on that topic.
Dent claims to have pushed for the $6M in Federal money for Route 378 interchange near the hill to hill. Isn't that an earmark?
To me, an earmark is any project that the Federal governemnt funds for the greater good of the public at large. Seems to me that money for vital transportation projects could be considered an earmark.
Are we to believe Dent will not try to bring some of our federal tax dollars back to our District for important projects?
so, does this mean we won't have to put up with pandering press conferences with big fake checks?
Earmarks are .0000005 percent of the budget. Dent takes a strong stand on pennies after bailing out connected banks and insurance companies by the billions and we're supposed to call him responsible? Seriously.
It's akin to drunk kid wrecking the family sedan, but bragging that he salvaged the change in the ashtray from the totaled vehicle.
Stop the unfunded military spending.
I will not support an increase in
retirement age over this Bull Sh$t or lower Social Security Benefits.
Charlie Dent's a Bum!
It's an important gesture.
I am not a fan of Dent because of his position on unregulated untaxed fracking for natural gas when it risks one of our most precious entitlements--uncontaminated drinking water that can't be set on fire and doesn't give us cancer.
But I do appreciate the gesture with regard to earmarks, especially since he had the independence to speak of a Democrat in a gracious and bipartisan tone. Let's hope that these bi-partisan gestures for the common good are contagious.
one more note on earmarks--it's not so much about what percent of the budget earmarks take up, but the fact that allowing earmarks creates a climate where politicians are more easily manipulated by special interests and encouraged to waste time and haggle with important votes our tax money.
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