Quotes

They are, at a minimum, to allow every earmark request the opportunity of an up or down vote on the House floor and to be fully transparent as to its sponsor and benefactor. This is neither unrealistic nor unreasonable, except to those interests that have corrupted the process for personal and political gain. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said to the Wall Street Journal in July 2006, "Personally, myself, I'd get rid of all of them. None of them is worth the skepticism, the cynicism the public has ... and the fiscal irresponsibility of it." Yet, now that she has the power to enact meaningful reforms, Pelosi has declined to do so.