Our Generation signed onto a coalition letter addressed to the entire House of Representatives urging them not to backslide on their earmark moratorium. See the letter below:
April 11, 2012
Dear Representative:
On behalf of the millions of taxpayers our organizations represent, we write to express our serious concerns about comments made by Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) supporting the reinstitution of congressional earmarks. According to a March 30, 2012 Reuters article, “In a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans, [Mike] Rogers recommended reviving a proven legislative sweetener that became politically toxic a year ago. Bring back earmarks, Rogers, who was first elected to Congress in 2002, told his colleagues.” Let us be clear, any attempt to bring back earmarks would be fiscally irresponsible and be a slap in the face of taxpayers.
Earmarks have been the bribery currency of Congress for many years, as both parties used them to buy votes, bring federal dollars to their district and ultimately get re-elected. Former members of Congress including Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.) were sent to jail for accepting bribes to secure earmarks. Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff also spent time in jail in connection with earmarks promised to clients. The notorious “Bridge to Nowhere” earmark became a national symbol of government waste. Unfortunately, our nation’s history is now full of examples of wasteful spending due to the practice of congressional earmarking. Some of the most egregious examples include: $50,000,000 for an indoor rain forest in Iowa; $500,000 for a teapot museum; and $100,000 for the Tiger Woods Foundation.
Earmarks circumvent established budgetary processes and procedures and further exacerbate taxpayers’ cynicism of Washington, D.C. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has called earmarks “the gateway drug to spending addiction in Washington.” The current $15 trillion national debt is partly due to Congress being more concerned about earmarks than the financial well-being of the country.
In 2010, the House and Senate agreed to a two year moratorium on earmarks, yet there were reports of Congress backsliding on this promise – with earmarks being found in the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills.
The undersigned groups urge you to show fiscal responsibility and eliminate earmarks once and for all.
David Williams Andrew Moylan
Taxpayers Protection Alliance National Taxpayers Union
Chris Chocola Grover Norquist
Club for Growth Americans for Tax Reform
Jim Martin Tom Schatz
60 Plus Association Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
Mattie Duppler Seton Motley
Cost of Government Center Less Government
MacMillin Slobodien Brian Baker
Our Generation Ending Spending
Jeff Mazzella Ryan Alexander
Center For Individual Freedom Taxpayers for Common Sense
Ron Wall
Wasted America WashingtonWatch.com
