Congressman John Campbell's Blog - Green Eyeshade Blog

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Posted by: John Campbell at 1:47 PM

As you know, I believe the earmark process must be completely reformed. The current system is neither transparent nor does it have checks and balances or accountability.

Here is a summary of my 10 point plan to reform the process. You will hear more about my plans for this in the future.
10 Point Plan for Earmark Reform

Members must make public and fully disclose all earmark requests when they are submitted.
Put every earmark in the text of the bill.
The bill should fully disclose all earmarks with the requesting member(s), amounts, recipients and purpose at least 1 week before any bill containing earmarks is brought to the floor.
All earmarks must be available for discussion at an open Congressional hearing.
All earmarks for programs must be previously authorized by Congress.
Earmarks must serve a federal interest and/or have a federal nexus.
No earmarks outside of a member's own state.
No earmarks to private entities without a competitive bidding process.
No earmark can be added or increased in a conference committee to an amount greater than the amount passed in either the House or the Senate version of the bill.
The dollar amount of any earmarks reduced by amendment or committee should go towards debt/deficit reduction and not be reallocated into other spending.

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Dean writes:	Wednesday, July, 25, 2007 2:54 PM
Earmarks
All good ideas John but, control of earmarks is not the problem, earmarks are. Where in the Constitution are they mentioned. If earmarks are a problom, eliminate them. If congress need to pass emergancy legislation, pass a bill and pass it like the Constitution mandates.
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Anne writes:	Wednesday, July, 25, 2007 6:42 PM
I agree... the only realistic Earmark
Reform is to completely ELIMINATE earmarks! If a "project" honestly warrents federal funding, then it should be able to stand on its own. Submit the "project" as a bill, with a stanadard designated specific number of days for open and honest debate, and then let there be a vote. OR, how about this..... A designated date and time, once or twice a session, by which a "project" must be submitted to Congress for consideration (WITHOUT SOMEONE DECIDING THAT IT WILL NOT BE UP FOR A VOTE!) Congress then spends a designated period of time debating and then votes on each funding request. Earmarks are nothing but a way to cheat the public, and it needs to stop!!!!!
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DGB33 writes:	Thursday, July, 26, 2007 8:43 AM
Good Plan
Earmarks have grown out of control and are the reason several former Congressmen are in jail. You cannot eliminate earmarks, that would give way too much control to the executive branch, Congress will never allow it and quite frankly it is part of their job to allocate funds. But if you shine the brightest light of day on the process, you can have a responsible system. Earmarks not only provide the "Bridges to Nowhere" and "Rangel's Monument to Himself" but also provide for vital roads & interchanges, water projects including dams and our own OC program, runoff waste reduction, erosion control, etc etc...it's just the few bad apples who give it all a bad name. Great job Congressman on taking on this task!
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gandolphxx writes:	Friday, July, 27, 2007 7:48 PM
History of Earmarks
Perhaps it would be wise for our elected leaders to read http://commonsensewonder.com/?p=204 which is a history of this practice - one that has grown exponentially in the last few decades.
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gandolphxx writes:	Friday, July, 27, 2007 7:48 PM
History of Earmarks
Perhaps it would be wise for our elected leaders to read http://commonsensewonder.com/?p=204 which is a history of this practice - one that has grown exponentially in the last few decades.
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fem writes:	Saturday, July, 28, 2007 2:22 AM
Cure their Earmark Addiction for them...
The only way to "cure" the Congressional obsession with earmarks is to cut them off...at least for a period of time. Make them go "cold turkey" until their voracious appetite for spending Our tax dollars to buy votes for themsmelves subsides. any withdrawal program includes, initially, a restrictive program of consequences & accountability, with possible rewards. An addict has to first admit that he/she has a "problem". I believe that the GOP is much further ahead in their recovery process due to the real effects they experienced...earmarks contributed to their losing Majority Party status. No doubt, the Dems will need to have more concrete "encouragement" to give up their chronic. sneaky earmark disease ... Fat chance that Dems will ever stop throwing Our money down their earmark ratholes, voluntarily.. They need Help.
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Jimmy D writes:	Friday, August, 03, 2007 12:59 PM
Forgot One
Any violations regarding this plan by either Members of Congress or the recipient's (Corporation Officiers without Corporate protection laws )shall face no less then 10 years minimum in a Federal Prison, without early releases.
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John writes:	Sunday, April, 27, 2008 6:10 PM
EARMARKS MUST BE ELIMINATED
While the country suffers from an invasion of illegal aliens and cannot seem to find the funds for increased border security, congress earmarks $3.4 million to research the Formosan Subterranean Termite and $10 million to La Raza, a pro-illegal alien amnesty organization. While the country goes deeper and deeper into debt and the dollar seems to lose its value every day, congress earmarks $450,000 for the International Peace Garden in Dunseith, North Dakota and $13.5 million for the International Fund for Ireland, which includes funding for the World Toilet Summit. While the nation’s education system is failing the American people, congress earmarks $2 million for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York and another $200,000 for the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, Nev. The best way to reduce the number of earmarks is to pass legislation that requires that all bills and legislation be single issue or purposed. An individual bill should address one specific issue and only that issue. Any amendments must directly address that specific issue. No pork, no side issues, and especially no riders. All bills must be published and the discussions open to public scrutiny. Limiting legislation to a single purpose will make bills more concise, and will substantially reduce the number of expensive special interest giveaways that are routinely inserted into so called "must pass" legislation without any debate. If members of congress want to fund specific projects back in their home states, let them introduce bills for these projects and let these bills be openly debated and voted on. By: JOHN W. WALLACE Candidate for Congress New York’s 20th Congressional District http://www.FreedomCandidate.com
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knight_of_baawa writes:	Sunday, April, 27, 2008 6:41 PM
Earmarks aren't the problem
The size of the budget is. Shrink the budget first. Earmarks are just a convenient red herring.
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About John Campbell

John Campbell is a member of the House Financial Services Committee, and has taken a leadership role in addressing the country's top economic issues. Campbell serves as a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and House Committee on the Budget. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from UCLA and a Master's Degree in Taxation from USC.