WALZ APPLAUDS APPROPS COMMITTEE FOR REJECTING EARMARKS TO FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES

"Congress"

03/10/2010

Says he is pleased House is following his lead on earmark reform



Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Walz applauded the Appropriations Committee for announcing they will ban earmark requests from for-profit companies.

Since first coming to Congress in 2007, Congressman Walz has not submitted appropriations requests for for-profit companies. He is also a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation, introduced by Republican Rep. Jeff Flake, that would ban all earmarks to private, for-profit entities (H.R. 2512).

“I support an open, accountable, and transparent appropriations process because I think it is critically important that the people of southern Minnesota have a say in how their taxpayer dollars are spent in our community,” said Walz. “Earmarks to for-profit companies are like no-bid contracts and that’s not a good deal for taxpayers. I am pleased that the Appropriations Committee announced today that they will not accept these kinds of requests.”

Congressman Walz has been an advocate for increased transparency and accountability in the appropriations process since first coming to Congress. He was one of the first Members of Congress to disclose all the projects he requested and was proud when the rest of Congress followed his lead and required all members of Congress to take this step.

This year Walz has taken accountability and transparency a step further by hosting a virtual hearing on appropriations requests. Walz has posted all project requests his office received and is soliciting input from southern Minnesotans on these applications. To participate, southern Minnesotans should visit http://www.walz.house.gov.