CCAGW Supports Rep. Flake for Appropriations Committee

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today
released the following text of a January 14 letter sent to House
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and the Republican Steering
Committee:

"Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) has made a bid for the open seat on the
House Appropriations Committee. On behalf of the more than 1.2 million
members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government
Waste (CCAGW), I urge you and your colleagues on the Republican
Steering Committee to place Rep. Flake on Appropriations.

"CCAGW appreciates your leadership and the fact you have not asked
for earmarks during your entire Congressional career. If more of your
colleagues followed your example, Republicans would have more
credibility when it comes to stopping wasteful spending and perhaps
still be in power. Many have attributed the 2006 Republican loss of
Congress to corruption issues and much of that was a result of
pork-barrel spending. As you have said, Republicans can regain control
by stressing fiscal conservatism.

"To help achieve that goal, Rep. Flake should be appointed to the
Appropriations Committee. He will help bring more balance to the
spending process. Members may be more likely to allocate federal funds
in a responsible way, saving valuable tax dollars. Rep. Flake will
reiterate that Congress's role is to focus on national issues, not
local issues such as providing funds for schools, museums, and bike
paths.

"I am sure you have seen the January 8 Wall Street Journal
editorial, which said, "Now that they are back in the minority,
however, these same GOP leaders say they want to reclaim their fiscal
credentials. So Mr. Flake's candidacy is a test of their sincerity...
if he doesn't get it, we'll know House Republicans still haven't
changed their ways from the Tom DeLay-Bridge to Nowhere era." CCAGW
hopes that you and the Republican Steering Committee will show that
real change can happen in Washington, and that fiscal conservatives
are alive and well and leading the way."

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying
arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, a nonpartisan, nonprofit
organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and
mismanagement in government.

Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW)
Leslie K. Paige, 202-467-5334
or
Alexa Moutevelis, 202-467-5318

Copyright Business Wire 2008