Members Who Have Sworn Off Earmarks
[This blog post was last updated on APRIL 7, 2008. To find the exact date for when a congressional member swore off earmarks, you'll most likely find out by clicking on the link next to their name. Other members, like Jeff Flake, John Boehner, and John McCain, have always been opposed to earmarks. For those members associated with the Reagan21 group, that coalition was established on Oct. 31, 2007]
Shortly after joining Congress in 2000, Rep. Jeff Flake swore off earmarks forever. Others have followed. GOP Leader John Boehner was arguably the first among current House members. He shunned earmarks way back in 1990 (who said accepting earmarks was necessary for getting re-elected?). And with the earmark crisis reaching a feverish pitch nowadays, fiscal conservatives are realizing that something radical needs to be done. Real reform needs to be enacted, and the first step is to lead by example.
Below are the brave members who have personally decided to stop receiving pork projects, if only temporarily, while they fight for reform. This may not be an exhaustive list. If you know of a House member, or work for one, who should be added to the list, send me the documentation and I'll happily add them. Also, be sure to heap praise on these members. And, if you have time, call your own representative if they aren't on the list and encourage them to swear off pork. The Capitol switchboard is (202) 224-3121.
[NOTE: The links next to each person's name provides proof of position; Democrats are in italics; members are listed in the order in which I received notice of their position]:
HOUSE MEMBERS (39 members)
Jeff Flake (AZ-06)
John Campbell (CA-48)
Jeb Hensarling (TX-05)
John Shadegg (AZ-03)
John Boehner (OH-08)
John Kline (MN-02)
Tom Price (GA-06)
Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03)
Virginia Foxx (NC-05)
Trent Franks (AZ-02)
Michele Bachmann (MN-06)
Eric Cantor (VA-07)
Patrick McHenry (NC-10)
Marilyn Musgrave (CO-04)
Paul Ryan (WI-01)
Walter Jones (NC-03)
Devin Nunes (CA-21)
Louie Gohmert (TX-01)
Paul Broun (GA-10)
Henry Waxman (CA-30)
Joe Pitts (PA-16)
Mark Kirk (IL-10)
Todd Platts (PA-19)
Patrick Tiberi (OH-12)*
Mark Udall (CO-02)
Joe Wilson (SC-02)
Ron Kind (WI-03)
Dan Burton (IN-05)
Jim Cooper (TN-05)
Mike Pence (IN-06)
Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05)
Dave Reichert (WA-08)
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05)
Marsha Blackburn (TN-07)
Nathan Deal (GA-09)
Michael McCaul (TX-10)
Judy Biggert (IL-13)
John Linder (GA-07)
Dave Camp (MI-04)*SENATORS (7 members)
Tom Coburn (OK)
Jim DeMint (SC)
John McCain (AZ)
Claire McCaskill (MO)
Richard Burr (NC)
Russ Feingold (WI)
Barack Obama (IL)
Again, please offer words of encouragement to these members. And if your representative isn't on the list, call their office and urge them to cut the addiction. The Capitol switchboard phone number is (202) 224-3121.
* -- I received verbal confirmation from Tiberi's office on March 7, 2008. I received verbal confirmation from Camp's office on April 2, 2008.
Posted at Andrew Roth at 11:50 AM | TrackBack
