RNC Resolution Urging Members of Congress to Abandon Earmarks

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RNC RESOLUTION URGING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO ABANDON EARMARKS

 
WHEREAS, the United States of America is in an economic recession which threatens the economic stability of all Americans; and

WHEREAS, on March 10, 2009, Congress passed President Obama’s $410 billion dollar omnibus spending bill, which will fund the federal government’s programs for the remainder of the fiscal year; and

WHEREAS, President Obama’s omnibus spending bill included 9,287 earmarks; and

WHEREAS, an earmark is a provision in legislation that directs funds to be used for special interests that are often wasteful and that are designed to help Members of Congress to get reelected; and

WHEREAS, earmarks are generally anonymous; under current congressional rules, there is no requirement that a Member identify his or her earmarks; and

WHEREAS, earmarks expand the federal government and are usually financed by tax increases or borrowed money from foreign countries; and

WHEREAS, earmarks do not go through the usual legislative process of being considered by the entirety of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives and thus are not subject to scrutiny through detailed hearings or public debate; and

WHEREAS, earmarks are not considered during the structuring of an actual bill, but are typically inserted into huge pieces of legislation during the conference stage, creating a prime opportunity for corruption; and

WHEREAS, Americans of all political parties and walks of life are opposed to earmarks; even President Obama himself during the presidential campaign promised to review line by line each item in the budget and to remove earmarks in all legislation or veto the legislation; however, he did not keep his word and has signed the above mentioned heavily earmarked spending bill; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that in order to demonstrate integrity, fiscal responsibility and restraint, we the members of the Republican National Committee urge that the practice of earmarking be banned by congressional rule; and therefore be it further

RESOLVED, that we the members of the Republican National Committee urge all Republican Members of Congress to set the example and abandon all earmark practices immediately.

Adopted by the Republican National Committee, May 20, 2009

Download a copy of the Resolution in PDF format.

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