[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H7762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                EARMARKS

  (Mr. REHBERG asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, earmarks represent the culture of spending 
that has led to record deficits and debts that are literally costing us 
our future. We've got to change that culture, and we've got to start 
right now. Today, we can save the American taxpayer as much as $16.5 
billion. That money can go to pay down some of the debt we've accrued 
against our children's future. That's why I made the decision last year 
to forgo earmarks. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the right 
one. That's why President Obama and Montana's Democrat Governor have 
also thrown their support behind eliminating earmarks.
  But earmarks are just the beginning. We also need to balance the 
budget and seriously cut spending across the board. If Congress doesn't 
have the courage to cut earmarks, how can we hope to tackle the bigger 
problems later?

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