Blunt: Democrats Vote Against Republican Earmark Reform Proposal Today

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Republican Whip Roy Blunt
(Mo.) issued the following statement today after Republicans forced a vote to
bring up earmark reform legislation authored by Reps. Jack Kingston (Ga.),
Frank Wolf (Va.) and Zach Wamp (Tenn.) that would've helped achieve just that:

"It is regrettable -- though, sadly, not surprising -- that Democrats have
once again rejected the American taxpayers' calls for reform. Republicans know
what our constituents have been saying is true: Washington is broken, and we
can take a giant step to regain the trust of the American people if both
parties come together to fix the earmark process.

"With our vote today, Republicans demonstrated our desire for change and our
commitment to get it done. Democrats, unfortunately, demonstrated their
contentment with the failed status quo.

"Just because our efforts to continue working together this session were
brushed away by the majority, it is in no way any indication that our efforts
will meet the same fate. Today's vote is just the beginning. Americans' cry
for reform has not fallen on deaf ears from our side of the aisle -- we will
fight for earmark reform until the majority will hear them crystal clear."

NOTE: H.Con.Res. 263, introduced by Reps. Kingston, Wolf, and Wamp, is a
continuation of House Republicans' call to reform the earmark process. It
would create a Joint Committee on Earmark Reform to conduct a full study of
the earmark practices of the House, Senate and Executive Branch. Upon
completion of this study, the Joint Committee would file a report of its
findings and recommendations. Until the report is filed, the House will put in
place an immediate moratorium on the consideration of all earmarks.

SOURCE House Republican Whip Roy Blunt

Nick Simpson, Antonia Ferrier, or Chris Tucker of the Office of House
Republican Whip Roy Blunt, +1-202-226-7022