[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 29, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H483-H484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DEMOCRATS REFORM EARMARK PROCESS

  (Mr. ARCURI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, 7 years into his Presidency, President Bush 
is finally urging reform of the earmark process. He is a little late.

[[Page H484]]

  Congressional Democrats have already begun reforming the earmark 
process. We realized reform was necessary after the number of earmarks 
in appropriations bills skyrocketed under the Republicans. You didn't 
hear the President complaining then. In fact, he signed every 
appropriations bill that came to his desk.
  Democrats, in stark contrast, have led the way in bringing 
transparency and accountability to the earmark process. We instituted a 
1-year moratorium on earmarks in 2007 until a reformed process could be 
put into place. We also adopted rules that provided for unprecedented 
transparency in earmarks and then significantly reduced the number of 
earmarks last year.
  Mr. Speaker, House Democrats are pleased to hear that the President 
is interested in reforming the earmark process. The Bush White House 
requests and receives funding for hundreds of earmarks each year, and 
we look forward to working with the President to both limit and bring 
increased transparency to the Presidential and congressional earmarks.

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