Caucus Press Release: House GOP Takes Action on Earmarks
Jan 23, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information:
Jason Zacher
(803) 734-3139
House GOP Takes Action on Earmarks
First major achievement of 2008 legislative agenda
COLUMBIA -- The House Republican Caucus pushed through a sweeping reform to how the state spends taxpayer money by approving rules Wednesday that will restrict the use of anonymous earmark spending.
This is the first achievement on the Republican Caucus' 2008 legislative agenda.
"This is a major achievement for South Carolina's fiscal conservatives," said Majority Leader Jim Merrill. "We will still seek a statutory fix. However, this will have an immediate impact on bringing transparency to the budget process."
The House rule change requires any spending item that is not requested by a state agency must list a member's name and a description of that item. If it does not, any member can object and passage of that item will require a two-thirds vote of the House, currently 83 votes.
Speaker Harrell called the plan "a victory for the taxpayers."
"Lawmakers must be held accountable for how the taxpayer's money is spent," said Speaker Harrell. "If lawmakers are not willing to put their name by an item they are requesting, it is probably something that should not be done in the first place."
In recent years, House Republicans have been concerned about spending inserted into the budget -- particularly by the Senate -- in late stages of the budget process. This rule change is effective immediately and will impact the current 2008-2009 budget deliberations in the House Ways and Means Committee. It also impacts any item created by the Senate -- once it reaches the House floor.
Republican Caucus members said they will continue pushing for further spending reforms.
"This is a good first step, but we must continue with comprehensive legislation to reform the entire way we write the state budget, not just how this House of Representatives operates," said Rep. Michael Thompson of Anderson, a leading proponent of earmark reform.
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