Spending Watchdog Urges Republicans To Pursue Earmark Ban

Citizens Against Government and Waste, the watchdog group well known for taking on pork-barrel spending in their yearly “Congressional Pig Book,” is urging Republican lawmakers to pursue an earmark ban proposed by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).

Citing $16.5 billion allocated for earmarks in 2010, CAGW described the moratorium as “a critical step.”

“The earmark ban will give members of Congress time to reform the process, devote more effort to critical issues, and save taxpayers billions of dollars that would otherwise be squandered on frivolous projects,” CAGW said in a letter sent to Senate Republicans. “There is no better time to demonstrate to taxpayers that Republicans are serious about cutting spending and returning Congress to fiscal sanity.”