Dear Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans,

On behalf of more than 1.6 million Americans for Prosperity activists in all 50 states, I urge to enact a conference-wide earmark moratorium. The American people have just spoken out very loudly against the spending and political largess that earmarks so clearly epitomize. The Republican Party has an opportunity to step forward and demonstrate that they have heard and understand the message citizens sent at the ballot box. Enacting an earmark moratorium is a small but meaningful step in that direction.

One of the most popular rationales for earmarking is that they account for a minuscule portion of the federal budget, and that if fiscal conservatives want to make real spending cuts they should look elsewhere. This logic is deeply flawed. Earmarks grease the wheels for large spending packages. When leaders lack the necessary votes to pass a bill, it is commonplace for them to offer earmarks in order to sway reluctant members. While the earmark itself may be relatively small, it allows the broader bloated spending to continue and calcifies support for otherwise suspect legislation. This type of vote buying and backroom dealing typifies the Washington practices voters just inveighed against.

If the Republican Party wants to portray itself as offering a different kind of governance, it must repudiate these practices. What’s more, they must go beyond merely arguing against it, they must lead by example and foreswear even the opportunity to turn to parochial projects at convenient junctures during the legislative session.

Americans for Prosperity remains steadfast in our opposition to either party harnessing the earmark process in order to expedite legislation and provide political favors. I urge you to support a conference-wide earmark moratorium.

Sincerely,

James Valvo
Director of Government Affairs
Americans for Prosperity

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