Republicans say that Pelosi and other Democratic leaders secure significant amounts of earmarks for their districts.
Bush was expected to bluntly criticize Congress on its use of earmarks. An advance excerpt of Bush’s State of the Union address stated, “The people’s trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks…”
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) lauded the administration Monday but argued that Congress should go further.
“The earmark process has become a symbol of a broken Washington,” Boehner said. “House Republicans applaud the president’s pledge to veto bills that do not significantly slash earmarks and provide appropriate transparency in spending.”
The GOP leader said Congress should adopt “an immediate moratorium on all earmarks and establish a panel to determine ways to end wasteful pork-barrel spending.
“It’s our sincere hope that Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic Majority will join us by the end of this week in supporting these urgently needed reforms so Congress can begin restoring trust between the American people and their elected leaders,” Boehner added.
In their letter to Pelosi on Saturday calling on her to embrace the proposed moratorium, House Republican leaders also took a shot at the White House: “Members of Congress should hold present and future administrations accountable for the way in which taxpayer funded earmarks are used.”
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