WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today released the following statement after the House Republican Conference voted to reverse its ban on earmarks, a practice that allows members of Congress to funnel taxpayer dollars to pet projects and special interests. The Conference had banned earmarks since 2011 after widespread abuse, including the proposed “Bridge to Nowhere” in Alaska.
“Just last week, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer used a “relief package” to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks for Silicon Valley subways and bridges from New York to Canada. That alone should have hardened our resolve against wasteful government spending, not encouraged us to look the other way.
“Earmarks and corruption walk hand-in-hand. If we are to be a party committed to restoring trust in government, this surely isn’t the path to go down.”
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