Contact: Annie Patnaude, (202) 349-5896

WASHINGTON, DC – Americans for Prosperity (AFP) President Tim Phillips released the following statement today in support of the Republican Study Committee’s (RSC’s) budget alternative, which would balance the federal budget over five years, protect tax relief, rein in runaway entitlements, and implement reforms to the corrupt practice of earmarking.

“The Republic Study Committee’s budget alternative exemplifies the kind of fiscal restraint lawmakers should practice everyday. This bold budget blueprint would not only bring commonsense budgeting back to Washington, but would also help reform the corrupt process of earmarking that breeds contempt for fiscal responsibility in Congress. The grassroots members of Americans for Prosperity salute Representatives Mike Pence, Jeb Hensarling, Jeff Flake, and the other members of the House Republican Study Committee who have shown true leadership in their efforts to bring the federal budget back into balance without blowing the personal budgets of American families.

The number of earmarks has skyrocketed from 958 in 1996 to 15,877 earmarks tallying up to $47.4 billion in the 2005 budget. By incorporating reforms that would make it easier for any lawmaker to challenge wasteful ‘earmarked’ spending, the RSC’s budget package will help bring about meaningful, long-term change and transform reckless spending attitudes in Congress into respect for the values of smaller government that made our nation great.

Currently, Members of the House cannot amend committee report language; they can only amend the actual text of a bill. Because most earmarks are found in committee or conference reports, it is nearly impossible for Members to introduce amendments that would remove wasteful earmarks. Allowing Members to amend a bill's actual legislative language to strip out wasteful earmarks in committee or conference reports, as the RSC budget provides for, would bring more transparency and accountability to the appropriations process.

Special interests that support big spending at the taxpayer's expense will likely distort these efforts at reasonable restraint by claiming they are “budget cuts,” but citizens need to know that the RSC’s budget only slows the rate at which government spending increases to a level roughly that of inflation growth. In the face of a rising tide of red ink that threatens to drown-out meaningful tax relief, RSC Chairman Mike Pence’s bold leadership deserves applause from hard-working Americans across the nation who believe there should be a limit to how much government takes from their pocketbooks.”

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