Wamp Calls For Total Reform Of Earmarks
November 15, 2007

Congressman Zach Wamp joined Congressmen Jack Kingston of Georgia and Frank Wolf of Virginia on Thursday to introduce a concurrent resolution to establish a Joint Select Committee on Earmark Reform that would make a full study and comprehensive recommendations on earmarks.

“The level of reform presented and adopted by the Congress so far has not convinced the public that things have changed in Washington. There have still been abuses of the current system by some leaders,” said Congressman Wamp. “We need sweeping reforms in a comprehensive way on how earmarks are decided in authorization, appropriations, tax and tariff bills and administration requests.”

The JSC on Earmark Reform would be composed of 16 members, evenly split between the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Republicans and Democrats. Because earmarking is practiced by the Congress and the Administration, the study will cover the House, the Senate and the Executive Branch. The study will also cover earmarking in authorizing, appropriation, tax and tariff measures and the funding request from the president each year.

While conducting the comprehensive study, the JSC would hold at least five public hearings while conducting the study where earmark proponents and opponents could present evidence in support of their position. Findings would be reported back to the House and Senate within six months and while the report is being conducted, no earmarks would be considered by either body.

“To have true earmark reform, we need to have bipartisan cooperation from the House and the Senate,” Congressman Wamp said. “Findings from this JSC should help Congress get to the root of the problems in the current system and make meaningful recommendations for the future.”