In response to a March 12 letter, I am pleased the issue of earmarks is finally generating the kind of outrage in Texas I am expressing in Congress.

When it comes to congressional earmarks there aren't just a few bad apples, the barrel is full of them. The American people have wised up to the fact that too often congressional earmarks are about using their paychecks to preserve a congressman's or senator's paycheck.

All too often the process represents the triumph of secrecy over transparency, the special interest over the national interest and seniority over merit. At a time when families are facing higher gas prices, higher health care premiums and higher tuition costs, it is especially important for Congress to commit itself to responsible spending levels so taxes on hard- working American's aren't raised even higher.

While a one-year moratorium on earmarks might not sound like a long-term fix, it is monumental by Washington's standards. In fact, House Republicans consider it paramount to reforming Congress' culture of spending, which is why we included the earmark moratorium in our proposed budget for 2009.

A moratorium will give Congress an opportunity to craft a permanent, more transparent, accountable and fair process to spend the people's money. This moratorium will show the American people Congress is not blind to their concerns and realizes the earmarking process is broken and at times, corrupt.

We must restore the American peoples' faith in Congress and we can start by spending their hard-earned tax dollars in a responsible manner, which is why I have pledged not to seek congressional earmarks.