WASHINGTON, D.C.

"One of my top priorities has always been to protect the taxpayers’ money. That is especially important during an economic recession," said Congressman McCaul. "The last thing anyone wants to see is members of Congress using public money for personal gain. I put a temporary stop to it last year. This year I plan to make it permanent."

The bill authored by Congressman McCaul that became law last year prohibits the practice for all government spending through March 2009, and applies to Veterans Affairs and military construction projects for the rest of FY’09. Rep. McCaul’s latest bill would apply the ban to all government spending from this point forward.

"The American people are outraged by the waste and abuse they see in Congressional earmarks. I want to put an end to it once and for all," said Rep. McCaul.

Perhaps the most controversial example of such spending is Rep. Charles Rangel’s (D-NY) earmark for $1.9 million to help jump-start the "Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service" at the City College of New York, dubbed the "Monument to Me". It is thought that projects in Congress bearing a sitting Member’s name are more likely to receive government funding regardless of their legitimacy.

Congressman McCaul’s original legislation was well received by congressional watchdog groups that fight against wasteful spending in Washington and has been endorsed by National Taxpayers Union and Americans for Prosperity.

"Going back more than 200 years, there's never been a shortage of vanity in Washington, but that doesn't mean that taxpayers should fund it," said Ed Frank, Vice President of Public Affairs for Americans for Prosperity, when the legislation was first filed. "Congressman McCaul's legislation may not make him the most popular guy on Capitol Hill, but it certainly makes him a friend of the taxpayer, which is far more important."