Statement from Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) on last night's defeat of S.2990 in Senate that would have imposed an earmark moratorium in the Senate through FY'11:

“I applaud Senator DeMint for his efforts. It’s unfortunate that Senate Democrats could not muster the political courage to join in stopping business as usual in Washington and commit to Americans that they will stop spending their money on wasteful special interest pork projects.”

Rep. McCaul stopped requesting earmarks at the beginning of 2008 until the system is 100% transparent as to the sponsor and recipient and until each earmark is subject to an up or down vote on the House floor.

House Republicans voted last week to impose a moratorium on earmarks, however Speaker Pelosi has refused to ask House Democrats to do the same.