Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today commented on the news that Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) plans to post all fiscal year 2009 earmark requests to his website. 

“This is a positive step.  Sen. Stevens, along with the rest of the Alaskan delegation, has brought home more pork per capita than any other state since 2000,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz.  “If a paramount porker like Sen. Stevens is feeling the need to release his earmark requests, then all members of congress can and should post their requests immediately.”

In 2007, CAGW encouraged taxpayers around the country to ask their representatives to publish their list of earmark requests.  More than 70 House members responded and published their requests, while only four senators did.  The first plank of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) 10-point Earmark Reform Pledge is that lawmakers must agree to “fully disclose all earmarked funding or targeted tax benefit requests (or substitute letters to agencies) on my Congressional website.”  The pledge encourages lawmakers to commit to providing taxpayers with greater transparency and accountability for earmarks. 

“Sen. Stevens is living under the cloud of a criminal investigation related to past earmarks.  Former Rep. Randy ‘Duke’ Cunningham (R-Calif.) and convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff illustrate that too many lawmakers and lobbyists trade in earmarks as their ‘currency of corruption.’  If House and Senate leaders are truly committed to overseeing ‘the most ethical Congress in history,’ they should adopt rules that make it easier for taxpayers to see where their money goes,” said Schatz.

Governor Sarah Palin (R) understands that Alaska should fend for itself.  In her State of the State Address on January 15, 2008, she said, “We can and must continue to develop our economy, because we cannot and must not rely so heavily on federal government earmarks. … We can do this we’re 50 years old now, and it’s time!”  The Palin administration requested 31 earmarks for fiscal year 2009, which is 23 fewer than the prior year, according to a spokesman for the governor.

“It would be preferable if the state requested no earmarks, but we hope that these are signs that Alaska is becoming more transparent and responsible,” concluded Schatz.

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