"YES" on DeMint Earmark Moratorium Amendment to the FY09 Budget Resolution

The Club for Growth urges Members of the Senate to vote "YES" on the DeMint amendment to the FY09 budget resolution that would impose a one-year moratorium on earmarks. This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

The amendment, if passed, would make any legislation that has earmarks in it immediately out of order. A vote to allow the earmark(s) would require a supermajority of Senators to pass.

The earmarking process is inherently flawed. Tax dollars spent on earmarks circumvent regular budget controls, which include committee hearings, oversight, and competitive bidding. This leads to corrupt behavior and abuse. This amendment would force the Senate to have a time-out on earmarks, with the hopeful consequence of reforming the process, making it more accountable to taxpayers.

This key vote will be included in our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress. The scorecard provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies, and will be distributed to our members and to the public.