Cranberry Township, PA - Former Congresswoman Melissa Hart today signed a pledge to support a moratorium on earmarks.  She pledged to support spending reform in Congress by refusing to support them in appropriation bills during the process for fiscal year 2009.

 

Earmarks refer to taxpayer money that is spent on individual Congressmen's special projects outside the normal oversight and authorization process.  Many of them have been spent on private businesses and narrow pet projects of political supporters.

 

"I am proud to have made this pledge to curtail the abusive practice of earmarking.  The spending bill approved by Congress at the end of 2007 contained over 11,000 earmarks for pet projects including $211,509 for olive fruit fly research in Paris, France and $250,000 for a wine and culinary center in Washington.  Using taxpayer dollars to pay for projects such as these is outrageous," said Hart. 

 

"Earmarks have grown out of control in recent years and have lead to corruption of some members of Congress.  One hears too often about members of Congress accepting campaign contributions from politically well-connected individuals and companies who have been the recipients of earmarks - - OUR TAX DOLLARS.   Earmarks abuse the people's trust." 

 

"As I have been traveling the District talking with voters, I have often asked large groups of people if they themselves have ever received an earmark - I've yet to see a raised hand.  I am being told regularly by voters they have lost confidence in Congress' honesty and ability to do its job.  We must work to restore that confidence and I am committed to doing so." 

 

"I don't believe that Congressmen should be forced to choose business winners and losers in their congressional districts.  There is a way to fund legitimate projects - - adding a special earmark behind closed doors with no oversight is not the way."

 

"There must be more openness and transparency in government.  When I return to Congress, I am committed to cutting wasteful spending and bringing sunlight to the appropriations process public."

###