Democrat Transparency Promises

Nancy Pelosi

 * Get rid of all earmarks
 * “Breaking with many Democrats, Ms. Pelosi also spoke out against earmarking billions of dollars for home-state projects, a practice she calls a ‘monster’ that hurts Congress. ‘I’d get rid of all of them,’ she says. ‘None of them is worth the skepticism, the cynicism the public has . . . and the fiscal irresponsibility of it.’” – “Pelosi Promises Fiscal Restraint If Democrats Win,” Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2006


 * Subject Earmarks to Public Scrutiny
 * “Put an end to secret earmarks...” – Letter to Majority Leader Boehner (R-OH) from Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Democratic Caucus Chairman James Clyburn (D-SC), and Democratic Caucus Vice-Chairman John Larson (D-CT), February 9, 2006
 * “Pelosi and Reid are making the loudest calls for an end to basically anonymous earmarks that, late in the process, are quietly attached to legitimate legislation and then approved by legislators who are unaware of the earmarks and their intent.” – “Democrats Must Make Good on their Vows to Ensure Transparency in Earmarks,” Columbus Dispatch Editorial, November 20, 2006


 * Ensure Members Have No Financial Interest in Earmarks They Sponsor
 * “Another key Democratic reform requires House members seeking earmarks to certify that neither they nor their spouses have any financial interest in the project.” – “In the Democratic Congress, Pork Still Gets Served,” Washington Post, May 24, 2007


 * Allow Lawmakers to Challenge Individual Earmarks
 * “I think, first of all, with any bill, any provision, whether it is an earmark or not, there should be transparency. So that’s what we have said – and I hope you would agree – that before Members vote on a bill there should be appropriate time for people to be able to read it, that it would be a matter of public record, and if there is an earmark that can stand the scrutiny, then that transparency will give the opportunity for it to be there.” – Then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Conference, March 16, 2006

Steny Hoyer

 * Hold Members Accountable 
 * “[W]e will help bring back fiscal responsibility by holding members accountable for their earmarks …” – Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Press Release, January 3, 2007

David Obey

 * Outlaw Use of Earmarks to Buy Votes 
 * “The package produced by Obey, Barney Frank (D-MA), David Price (D-NC), and Tom Allen (D-ME)…is designed to…outlaw the use of earmarks to buy votes...” – Press Release from the Kansas Democratic Party, January 10, 2006