McCaul: No "Monuments to Me" Legislation Prohibits Taxpayer Funding of Projects Named for Sitting Members of Congress

Click Here For Text of Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his continuing efforts to reform Washington, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) introduced legislation today (attached) that would prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to fund projects named for sitting members of Congress.

“The question is not whether these projects are worthy of taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. McCaul. “It’s a problem of perception that these projects receive special treatment because of the names they bear. At a minimum, when the American people see this it feeds the belief that members of Congress are arrogant and out of touch with the people we represent. At worst these projects serve as a fundraising tool and campaign ad for the incumbent at taxpayer expense.”

Congressman McCaul’s effort to permanently ban the practice has influenced spending in Washington for the past three years, causing consternation for members on both sides of the political aisle. In 2008 Rep. McCaul succeeded in banning the practice for all spending in the first quarter of FY’09 and for Veterans and Military Construction spending for all of FY’09.

In 2009, then-chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. David Obey (D-WI), stood with Rep. McCaul and banned the funding of earmarks named for members in that year’s budget bill. Rep. Obey was criticized by members of his own party and was the subject of a heated confrontation on the House floor by a senior Democrat who, according to press reports, demanded funding for a projected which bared her name.

“This bill is a challenge to every member of Congress – Republican, Democrat or Independent – to end this practice and help restore dignity to this body and confidence among the American people,” Rep. McCaul said.

The Monument to Me spending practice is often tied to projects funded through earmarks. Congressman McCaul, a former federal prosecutor in the Department of Justice Pubic Integrity Section, was among the first members to stop requesting earmarks in early 2008 because the system is too susceptible to waste, fraud and abuse. McCaul will not request earmarks until the system becomes more transparent and each earmark is allowed an up or down vote.

In its January 25, 2011 edition, The Wall Street Journal called Rep. McCaul’s effort a “long overdue reform”.