| Washington D.C.- Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) – the Chairman of the Republican Study Committee who has led the GOP charge to hold Democrats accountable to their campaign promises on earmarks and transparency by preparing over 60 amendments to the Homeland Security appropriations bill – issued the following statement after a united Republican effort forced Democrats to abandon their earmark slush funds in appropriations bills:
“This week, RSC members led the charge on the floor to hold Democrats accountable for their actions. I am proud to say that after a strong and united effort, House Republicans were victorious in our effort to protect taxpayers from an onslaught of secret Democrat spending hidden in earmark slush funds. This is a victory for those who seek greater transparency and accountability in government, and a victory for all American taxpayers.
“Democrats had a choice – they could have spent hour after hour defending their slush fund for earmarks, or they could reverse their position and allow earmarks and their sponsor to be identified in spending bills. The Democrats knew that they had an indefensible position – that taxpayers should blindly fund Members’ pet projects without allowing them to be debated or questioned. It didn’t take them long to cave into the Republican effort to pull back the curtain and allow earmarks to be seen by taxpayers, journalists and other Members of Congress in the light of day.
“Though this must be a sad day in the Speaker’s office, it’s a great day for taxpayers. Rest assured that conservatives will remain united in our effort to protect American taxpayers and continue to serve as a watchdog over the secretive Democrats and their free spending ways.”
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