Washington, DC (March 14, 2008) - Congressman Jeff Miller (R-Fl-01) today announced that he will disclose all his Congressional appropriations requests for the Fiscal Year 2009 budget. Miller also reiterated his support for ending the practice of “air dropping” funding projects into committee reports without having the scrutiny of the full House of Representatives before a vote.
“Congress should be setting aside their preferences for pet projects and working to reduce wasteful spending,” Miller said. “The best way to do that is to show the American people exactly how they are spending their money. Transparency is the first step in getting Congress to overcome its addiction to earmarks”
Miller announced that he would post all project requests on his website so all constituents can view. Miller also announced that the only requests he would consider for submission were those from the local municipalities, non-profits, and Department of Defense related.
“Times of crisis require leadership, not selfishness and pork-barrel politics. I was elected to Congress on a platform of fiscal responsibility,” added Miller. “Congress should focus on defending our shores, winning the war on terror, stimulating the economy, and providing tax relief to American families. Instead, Congress has been more concerned with high-profile boondoggles like the ‘bridge to nowhere’.”
Miller is one of 158 House Republicans who has signed on to a GOP plan calling for a moratorium on earmarks while a bipartisan panel studies the issue and comes up with additional reforms. Miller also plans to vote for legislation mandating a one-year moratorium on Congressional earmarks.
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