Washington, Sep 20, 2007 -  

House Conference Secretary John Carter (TX-31), member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement today regarding the need for earmark reform in all bills. Congressman Carter along with House Republicans signed a discharge petition today that will force a vote on a GOP bill (H.Res. 479) that will ensure all earmarks, including earmarks in tax and authorization bills, are publicly disclosed and can be challenged by other members on the House floor. The petition was file today in response to the Democratic leaderships refusal to schedule a vote on the legislation.

“Last November, the American people sent a clear message to all members of Congress. They want an honest, open government that isn’t sneaking their tax dollars into bills to pay for questionable projects hidden from the public. They want this type of transparency in all government bills, not just spending bills.

“The Democrats SCHIP bill is the perfect example of why such reform is needed. The New York Times reported that the ‘House of Representatives has quietly funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to specific hospitals and health care providers under a bill passed this month to help low-income children. Most of the provisions were added to the bill at the request of Democratic lawmakers.’ The bill describes these specific hospitals in cryptic terms so that in order for the American public to identify them, they would basically have to solve a riddle. What is worse is that these hospitals are located anywhere from 40-200 miles outside of major U.S. cities like Chicago or New York City. The bill allows these rural hospitals an urban address so they qualify for higher Medicare payment reimbursements than they would normally qualify for if they applied using their real addresses. Only specific hospitals in specific Democratic districts were given the extra taxpayer dollars.

“The American people need someone to stand up for them, and it is clear that the new Majority in Congress isn’t willing to give up their hidden handouts and do the right thing. I have signed this petition to prove to the American taxpayers that I will fight relentlessly to give them the open, honest government that was promised to them at the beginning of this Congress. I call on those fiscally responsible Democrats to stand up with us and sign the discharge petition, showing the American people that they will not stand for the continued fleecing of America.”