Taxpayer Watchdog Urges Senate GOP to ‘Just Say NO!’ to Earmarks

For Immediate Release

Contact: David Williams (202-258-6527)

Washington, D.C. – The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is urging Senate Republicans to “Just Say No!” to bringing back earmarks. Earmarks are, at their core, corrupt giveaways that unnecessarily burden American taxpayers.

In response, TPA President David Williams offered the following comment:

“In the last year, Congress has piled up trillions of dollars of wasteful spending, padding the already bloated debt and deficit. Instead of using time to consider eliminating the ban on earmarks, the Senate GOP Conference should consider ways to get the government’s profligate spending under control.

“At their worst, earmarks cost the American taxpayer more than $30 billion on an annual basis. They act effectively as legislative bribes. Instead of trying to win votes with compromise or by pleading the merits of the legislation, earmarks serve as unrelated giveaways to pet projects to buy votes. Former members of Congress including Randy ‘Duke’ Cunningham (R-Calif.) were sent to jail for accepting bribes to secure earmarks. Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff also spent time in jail in connection with earmarks promised to clients. When earmarks are allowed, corruption and convictions soon follow. Former Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) called earmarks are the ‘gateway drug to a spending addiction.’ He was 100 percent correct.

“The vote this afternoon will show if Senate Republicans are serious about stopping corrupt and wasteful spending or if they just want to continue to keep the country on the path to fiscal ruin. TPA – on behalf of the millions of taxpayers we represent – urges the Senate GOP to continue the ban on earmarks and to fight wasteful spending wherever it may arise.”

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Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.