Senate Passage of Earmark Reform Testament to the Power of Grassroots Taxpayers, Americans for Prosperity Says

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Jan. 17, 2007     
Contact: Annie Patnaude (202) 349-5880

WASHINGTON – Tim Phillips, President of the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity today released the following statement in response to the Senate’s passage of essentially the same earmark reforms passed by the House only days ago.

“Taxpayers’ voices were heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill as the Senate overwhelmingly voted to include meaningful earmark reforms – such as those passed by the House – in its ethics reform package. Taxpayers are grateful for hard-nosed leaders like Sen. Tom Coburn as well as Sen. Jim DeMint who refused to give up even when the Senate leadership attempted to kill-off meaningful earmark reform.

“Sen. DeMint’s successful amendment to close loopholes in the earmark reform language previously contained in this bill will ensure that transparency requirements apply to earmarks tucked into federal agencies’ budgets as well as local or state projects. The stronger reforms successfully proposed by Sen. DeMint also include the creation of a new point of order against some of the most egregious earmarks: those that are “airdropped” into conference reports at the last minute in order to prevent an open and honest debate about how tax dollars are spent.

“Americans for Prosperity drove more than 10,000 miles across 37 states on our Ending Earmarks Express bus tour and heard from one outraged taxpayer after another that the earmark favor factory must be shut down. With this vote today that message echoed throughout the halls of Congress. This victory is a testament to the continued power of grassroots taxpayers, who told their elected officials that the practice of earmarking tax dollars for wasteful pet projects must end.

“The earmark reforms passed today are common sense ideas that will help save hard-earned tax dollars and restore some ethics to how taxpayers’ dollars are spent. However, there is still work to be done, as even these reforms fall short of stronger earmark reforms that taxpayers hope to enact in the near future.”

 Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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