HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

Washington, Jan 30, 2007 -

Yesterday House Republicans asked what is buried in the Democrats’ massive spending bill that caused them to keep it hidden from public scrutiny until the last possible moment. Now we know the answer: contrary to Democratic leaders’ claims, the bill contains hidden earmarks that Democrats apparently hoped to ram through the House without debate.

In December, key Democrats pledged to put a moratorium on earmarks for the rest of this year’s budget process, specifically stating: “There will be no congressional earmarks in the joint funding resolution that we will pass.”

Yet, with no input from rank-and-file Republicans or Democrats, this massive $463.5 billion Democrat measure allows plenty of on-going earmarks funded in previous years to continue to receive funding. Among those earmarks overlooked by the Democrats:

• The Tropical Rain Forest in Iowa is Back. The whopping measure keeps the infamous rain forest biosphere project in Iowa on track to receive $44.6 million.

• Department of Energy (DOE) Weapons Projects Total $495 million in Earmarks. The bill allows funding to continue for:
• $149 million for three construction projects nearing completion in FY 2007.
• $80 million for the cancelled Life Extension Program for the W80 warhead.
• $266 million for cancelled earmarks contained in the FY 2006 conference report.

• Department of Energy (DOE) Fossil Energy Research and Development Total $114 million in Earmarks. The measure allows continued funding for:
• $49.7 million in duplicative funding for oil and gas research at DOE even though the program now has a similar mandatory funding stream which began under the 2005 Energy Policy Act.

As former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill (D-MA) used to say, “Haste makes waste in the legislative process.” Indeed, Members of Congress deserve to know exactly how much pork, waste, and imprudent spending is in this bill before it is brought up tomorrow.