Washington, D.C. – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today released Guide to Earmark Reform.  The report evaluates the recently-passed House ethics package (H. Res. 6) and the President’s proposal for earmark reforms, and compares each with CAGW’s recommendations.   

“The House ethics package is a long-overdue improvement that will shine light on the corrupting practice of earmarking,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “The President also has good ideas on how to clean up the budget process.  However, both parties need to do more to eliminate pork-barrel spending.” 

Proposed by the new Democratic majority and approved on January 4, the House ethics rules will be in effect for the duration of the 110^th Congress.  The earmark restrictions go much further than the rules change passed by the Republican-led House in September 2006.  In an editorial and speech on January 3, President Bush offered his own ideas for earmark reforms.

Guide to Earmark Reform gauges the new measures against ten “gold standard” recommendations long favored by CAGW, covering details such as the definition of an “earmark,” the extent of transparency, and the practice of “air dropping” earmarks into conference reports. 

“With budget reform, the devil is in the details.  Politicians will bend any rule or find any loophole in order to keep or conceal their pork.  Taxpayers must keep the heat on Congress for these reform efforts to fully bear fruit,” Schatz concluded.   

Guide to Earmark Reform is available at www.cagw.org.  The Senate plans to take up its ethics reform legislation during the week of January 8.  The report will be updated with Senate provisions as they are proposed and approved. 

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.