Rep. Feeney Signs Council for Citizens Against Government Waste Earmark Reform Pledge

Rep. Feeney Signs Council for Citizens Against Government Waste Earmark Reform Pledge

Only Seven Members Have Signed the Pledge to Provide Taxpayers with Transparency

(Oviedo, FL) - U.S. Representative Tom Feeney (R-Oviedo) today signed the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) Earmark Reform Pledge. This pledge, currently signed by only seven members of Congress and two Senators commits lawmakers to providing taxpayers with greater transparency and accountability for earmarks. Earlier this week, Rep. Feeney also signed the House Earmark Reform Concurrent Resolution.

"I'm thrilled that the Citizens Against Government Waste is urging members of Congress to sign this important pledge. America's hardworking taxpayers deserve elected officials who are willing to go to bat for their hard-earned dollars. Central Floridians are forced to greatly reduce their family’s budget and send that money to Washington and in turn, lawmakers need to offer them transparency and sunshine.

"Fiscally responsible members, from both sides of the aisle, who believe in accountability and transparency should sign the CAGW pledge and also the House Earmark Reform Concurrent Resolution," said Feeney.

Rep. Feeney is a co-founder of the Washington Waste Watchers and is one of a few members of Congress who supported every 2007 Flake Amendment to strike wasteful earmarks from appropriations bills.

Among other things, the pledge (attached) has members agree to 10 provisions, including that they will:

fully disclose all earmarked funding or targeted tax benefit requests on their congressional websites;
not request any earmarked funding or targeted tax benefit provision that does not serve a federal interest and/or have a federal nexus;
not request any earmarked funding or targeted tax benefit provision that would be directed toward a specific private entity that was not requested by an agency; and,
support legislation that would end the linkage between campaign contributions and earmarks.

More information can be found on the Citizens Against Government Waste website.