	Congressman Franks Calls for House Democrats to Adhere to Immediate Earmark Moratorium


	January 28, 2008 – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), gave the following statement in response to a letter sent by House GOP Leadership for Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats to ban all earmarks until meaningful, effective earmark reform is enacted: “While Members of both parties have been guilty of earmark abuse over the last several decades, the amount of earmark abuse has led to a complete breakage in the trust of the American people for their elected officials, and Republicans are unified in our resolve to address this issue. It is obvious that steps must be taken to restore that trust, and a bi-partisan commitment to an immediate halt to the current earmark process, along with the establishment of a committee to assess the earmark process and eliminate wasteful spending, are critical elements that must be enacted to bring about true reform. “I join with my fellow Republican Members in embracing an immediate moratorium as evidence of our commitment to bringing transparency and accountability back into the appropriations process.” The full text of the letter sent to Speaker Pelosi is attached.

Congressman Franks is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, and is Ranking Member on the Constitution Subcommittee.