[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H14161-H14162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      LET'S DO AWAY WITH EARMARKS

  (Mr. FLAKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. FLAKE. Madam Speaker, I got a kick out of a recent warning made 
by the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He cautioned 
Members that if congressional negotiators were forced to make 
additional cuts in

[[Page H14162]]

this year's spending bills, that he just might do away with all 
earmarks in the bill. Well, that may pass for a threat here in 
Washington, but taxpayers all over the country are applauding.
  Despite the perception that many in Congress seem to have that 
taxpayers are eagerly awaiting the completion of appropriation bills to 
see if their earmarks ended up in the bill for their hometown, 
taxpayers, whether they're Republicans or Democrats, are applauding. 
They think that earmarks are a waste of money.
  Chairman Obey has said on many occasions that if it were up to him, 
he would do away with earmarks altogether; they are a waste of his time 
and his committee's resources. I couldn't agree more. In fact, I can't 
think of a better Christmas present to Chairman Obey than releasing him 
from the stress and hassle of having to deal with our earmarks. I'm 
sure he would be grateful, and our constituents would be grateful even 
more.

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