Bipartisan Panel Outlines Five Steps To Reform Earmarks

By Kyle LaFleur— Talk Radio News Service

Former Congressman James Walsh (R-NY) joined a bipartisan coalition of lobbyists and NGO members in Washington Wednesday morning to discuss the “Next Steps for Earmark Reform.” Though the seven panel members held a variety of opinions regarding the future of earmarks, they did agree on five reform principles Congress should consider.

“I have worked with lots of individuals and organizations over the years, this is probably one of the most unique groups I have worked with and it’s really been enjoyable and its great to see Americans of all stripes, views and philosophies coming together to help resolve some of the issues we have before us,” said Walsh.

The five principles would limit earmark beneficiary campaign contributions to $5,000, bar legislative staff from participating in fundraising events, create a new data base of all congressional earmarks, call for the random auditing of earmarks and require that members certify that earmark recipients are qualified to handle the projects they receive money for.  

“The lists is probably more inclusive than some would like and less inclusive then others would like but it’s the sort of compromise all of us would like to see and we think the American people would like to see Congress work out,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.  

The coalition’s anncounment comes exactly one week after House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginai called for an end to all earmarks.  

In a Politico op-ed, Cantor said “there is no question that earmarks – rightly or wrongly – have become the poster child for Washington’s wasteful spending binges. They have been linked to corruption and scandal, and serve as a fuel line for the culture of spending that has dominated Washington far too long. These reasons alone would justify completely eliminating earmarks, but the basis for my position doesn’t end there. The old adage that he who can’t be trusted to reform the “small” problems can’t be trusted to reform the “large” ones applies as much to government as to individuals. Both Republicans and Democrats have an enormous task before us if we are going to get America’s fiscal house in order.”