Washington, D.C. – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today offered hearty congratulations to Taxpayer Superhero Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) after his first victory in the House yesterday to strip wasteful and egregious pork-barrel projects from spending bills.

During Thursday’s floor debate on the fiscal 2008 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act (H.R. 2829), the House approved Rep. Flake’s amendment to eliminate a $129,000 congressional earmark slated to go to an economic development initiative called “The Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree.”  The project was submitted by Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.).  The final vote was 249-174, with 100 Democrats joining the majority voting in favor of the amendment.  Rep. Flake offered a total of 19 amendments last year to eliminate earmarks and was defeated in each and every foray.

“Rep. Flake has been a leader in changing the culture of wasteful spending in the nation’s capital.  Not coincidentally, CCAGW just released its 2006 Congressional Ratings and Rep. Flake was the only member of Congress to earn a 100 percent rating, making him Congress’s only taxpayer Superhero,” said CCAGW President Tom Schatz.

“While the passage of Rep. Flake’s amendment is a good start, the House will have many more opportunities to eliminate wasteful earmarks.  Taxpayers have grown weary and outraged by Congress’s abuse of their money.  They are empowered and they are closely watching the votes on pork-barrel projects,” Schatz added.  “Certainly, no one believes the comment made by House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee Chairman Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), who said of the fiscal 2008 Financial Services Appropriations Act (the very same bill that included the Christmas Tree project eliminated by Rep. Flake’s amendment), ‘there is no fat in here.’”

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