both liberals and conservatives agree that there is too much 'fat' and wasteful spending by our government. the Republicans blame the Democrats for spending too much and the Democrats believe that spending smart is the solution and transparency is the first step, especially in the internet age.
no matter which side you are on the 'Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act of 2006' is a responsible way to handle earmarks.
SEC. 2. EARMARKS.
Rule XVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by adding at the end the following:
`8.(a) In this paragraph, the term `earmark' means a provision that requires or permits the obligation or expenditure of any amount appropriated for the benefit of an identifiable person, program, project, entity, or jurisdiction by earmarking or other specification, whether by name or description, in a manner that--
`(1) discriminates against other persons, programs, projects, entities, or jurisdictions similarly situated that would be eligible, but for the requirement or permission, for the amount appropriated; or
`(2) applies only to a single identifiable person, program, project, entity, or jurisdiction, unless the identifiable person, program, project, entity, or jurisdiction is described or otherwise clearly identified in a law or Treaty stipulation (or an Act or resolution previously passed by the Senate during the same session or in the estimate submitted in accordance with law).
`(b) No appropriation bill shall be considered unless--
`(1) a list of all earmarks in such bill and the name of the requestor and a short justification for each earmark are available to all Members and made available to the general public by means of the Internet for at least 72 hours before its consideration;
`(2) all earmarks are contained in the text of the bill and not incorporated by reference or directed in the committee report; and
`(3) all earmarks are germane to the bill.
`(c) This paragraph may only be waived by 2/3 of Members, duly chosen and sworn.'.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:s.2261:
this bill was introduced by Barack Obama on Feb 8, 2006 and probably did not pass because there were no earmarks on it, lol. but seriously, this is another reason i am voting for Barack Obama.
no matter which side you are on the 'Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act of 2006' is a responsible way to handle earmarks.
SEC. 2. EARMARKS.
Rule XVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by adding at the end the following:
`8.(a) In this paragraph, the term `earmark' means a provision that requires or permits the obligation or expenditure of any amount appropriated for the benefit of an identifiable person, program, project, entity, or jurisdiction by earmarking or other specification, whether by name or description, in a manner that--
`(1) discriminates against other persons, programs, projects, entities, or jurisdictions similarly situated that would be eligible, but for the requirement or permission, for the amount appropriated; or
`(2) applies only to a single identifiable person, program, project, entity, or jurisdiction, unless the identifiable person, program, project, entity, or jurisdiction is described or otherwise clearly identified in a law or Treaty stipulation (or an Act or resolution previously passed by the Senate during the same session or in the estimate submitted in accordance with law).
`(b) No appropriation bill shall be considered unless--
`(1) a list of all earmarks in such bill and the name of the requestor and a short justification for each earmark are available to all Members and made available to the general public by means of the Internet for at least 72 hours before its consideration;
`(2) all earmarks are contained in the text of the bill and not incorporated by reference or directed in the committee report; and
`(3) all earmarks are germane to the bill.
`(c) This paragraph may only be waived by 2/3 of Members, duly chosen and sworn.'.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:s.2261:
this bill was introduced by Barack Obama on Feb 8, 2006 and probably did not pass because there were no earmarks on it, lol. but seriously, this is another reason i am voting for Barack Obama.