San Francisco Chronicle
February 4, 2007
Pelosi responds to editorial on earmarks
Editor - Your Feb. 1 editorial ("The new Party of
Pork") rightly criticizes President Bush's hypocrisy on earmarks. For six
years, the president stood by as the number and cost of earmarks under the
Republican-controlled Congress spiraled out of control and corruption ran
rampant.
Unfortunately, the editorial failed to note the historic
steps the New Direction Congress has taken to bring transparency and
accountability to the appropriations process. Last year, the Democratic
majority in Congress acted quickly to require members of Congress to disclose
in writing the purpose and intended recipients of earmarks, and to certify that
members (and their spouses) have no financial interest in the request.
Information about the cost and sponsorship of earmarks is required to be made
available for public scrutiny before the Congress votes on appropriations
bills.
Since gaining control of Congress, Democrats have succeeded
in cutting the dollar amount of earmarks by 43 percent in fiscal year 2008. We
promised earmark reform in the 2006 campaign, and we have kept that promise.
NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House
Washington, D.C.
