US House reaffirms reforms on earmarks
Deal restores requirement to disclose all member-sponsored projects including the right to challenge projects on House floor.
from the June 15, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
By the terms of the new deal announced Thursday morning, earmark disclosure rules will not apply to the two spending bills currently on the House floor, Homeland Security and Military Quality of Life. But all 10 remaining FY 2008 spending bills will be subject to the new rule.
Republicans say that they will continue to challenge spending levels in pending appropriations bills – and sustain any presidential veto of spending bills that exceed budget limits – but will call off obstructionist tactics over earmarks. In addition, House Republican leader John Boehner says he will try to force a House vote on a reform that allows members to challenge earmarks in authorizing and tax bills, as well as spending bills.
"Democratic leaders finally surrendered to our demands, because supporting secret earmarks in appropriations bills is indefensible and the American people won't stand for it," said Mr. Boehner, in a statement.
Some Congress watchers defend Obey's role in the process and say that Republicans badly abused earmarks in their own years in power.
"Obey had legitimate reasons for proposing what he proposed in terms of delaying the earmarks, because Democrats are just determined to pass the appropriations bills before the beginning of the fiscal year," says Thomas Mann, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. "But the deal is a reasonable one. The process has gotten out of hand, been abused, and needed to be reined in," he adds.
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