Statement by Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX 10) on the House Republicans' vote to institute a moratorium on earmarks

“Over two years ago I took an unpopular stand against this broken and corrupt earmark process by refusing to participate until it is reformed. Today I am encouraged that every House Republican has joined me in this stand and sending a strong message that it is no longer business as usual in Washington. Today’s commitment is a good start, but Congress needs to do more. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to extend this moratorium until the system is permanently fixed. Earmarks must be 100% transparent as to the sponsor and recipient and each earmark must be subject to an up or down vote on the House floor. The current earmark system is emblematic of what’s wrong with Washington. The American people deserve a real commitment to stop spending their hard-earned money on wasteful special interest pork projects.”

Congressman McCaul, a former federal prosecutor in the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity unit, stopped requesting earmarks at the beginning of 2008. He has also led the “No Monuments to Me” effort, which has successfully banned the funding of various projects named after sitting members of Congress.

Text of the moratorium is available here.