A resolution reforming the congressional earmark process.

Support for two amendments to S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008 offered by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) that will help eliminate government waste by reducing spending on programs that have been rated ineffective by the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) and for reducing waste, fraud, and abuse in mandatory programs by following several GAO suggestions. March 20 Support for an amendment to S. Con. Res. 21 offered by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) that would create a Commission on Budgetary Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies (CARFA). March 22 Support for an amendment to S. Con. Res. 21 offered by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C) that will help save Social Security. March 22 Support for an amendment to S. Con. Res. 21 offered by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) that will prevent any funding in an emergency war supplemental appropriation from going to spinach producers. March 23 Support for several amendments to H.R. 1591, the 2007 emergency supplemental appropriations bill offered by Sens. Coburn, DeMint and McCain that would remove pork barrel projects. March 28 Commendation for statements for regarding the need for a deliberate discussion of the subprime lending industry. April 2 Support for a unanimous consent request by Sen. DeMint to enact S. Res. 123 that would have the Senate adopt the earmark transparency language found in S. 1, the lobbying reform bill, as part of its rules package. April 16 Opposition to S. 3, a bill that will permit the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate pharmaceutical prices directly with drug companies. April 16 Support for S. 924, the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, which will strengthen the United States Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater Program. April 19 Support for four amendments to S. 761, America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) that will express the sense of the Senate that any new spending should be offset; that eliminates the Advanced Technology Program; that will sunset this legislation after four years and force the Congress to re-evaluate its worth; and that will add much needed accountability and transparency to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grants. April 24 Support for S. Amdt. 930 to S. 761 offered by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) that will establish a 60-vote point of order against appropriations bills that contain congressional earmarks for the funds authorized in S. 761. April 25 Support for amending S. 1082, the Prescription Drug User Fee Amendments of 2007, with legislation that creates a generic pathway for biologics, similar to what is found in S. 623 sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) April 26 Support for an amendment offered by Senator Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) to S. 1, the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act, that would give the President line-item veto authority. Jan. 10 Support for two amendments to S. 1 offered by Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) that will enhance earmark, tax and tariff benefits disclosures. Jan. 11 Applauding the Senate for working in a bi-partisan way and adopting earmark disclosure amendments to S. 1 but that more needs to be done. Jan. 11 Support for Senator Bennett’s (R-Utah) motion to strike Section 220 of S. 1, which regulates grassroots lobbying. Jan. 12 Support for four amendments to S. 1 offered by Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to further reform the earmarking process Jan. 16 Support for S. Amdt. 37 to S. 1 offered by Sen. Thune (R-S.D.) that will require federal grant recipients to disclose any and all political advocacy activities. Jan. 16 Support for two amendments to S. 1 offered by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) that would make technical changes to the bill and to assist in a better appropriations process for the Dept. of Defense so as not to constantly rely on supplemental appropriations. Jan. 16 Support for S. Amdt. 29 to S. 1 offered by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) that would substantially curtail earmarking and pork barrel spending Jan. 17 Opposition to H.R. 2, a bill to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour over two years. Jan. 23 Support for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued guidance to federal agencies on how to obligate funds for fiscal year 2007, which directs agencies not to fund a project or activity unless it is identified in statutory text. Feb. 16 Encouraging your committee to expand its review of the Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater Program, particularly the EADS-CASA CN-235 aircraft. Feb. 28 Opposition to S. 215, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act that would create “net neutrality.” Feb. 5 Opposition to H.J. Res 20, unless amendments are in order and changes are made to the legislation. Feb. 8 Support for his amendment to S. 4, Improving America's Security Act of 2007, that would strike the section of federal code that exempts the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR.) March 5 Support for three amendments to S. 4 offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) that will provide a sunset provision for the bill; require the Dept. of Homeland Security to comply with the Improper Payments Information Act; and, streamline the interoperable communication grant programs that are administered at DHS by combining two programs into one. March 6 Urging support for an amendment offered by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave to the fiscal 2008 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that will reduce over-all spending in the bill by 0.5 percent. June 19 Urging opposition to an amendment offered by Reps. Porter, Berkley, and Heller that would strike funding for the nuclear waste disposal site at Yucca Mountain. June 19 Urging support for an amendment offered by Reps. Andrews and Chabot to H.R. 2643, the fiscal 2008 Interior Appropriations Act that would prohibit the U.S. Forest Service from subsidizing the timber industry through the construction of timber roads in the Tongass National Forest. June 25 Urging opposition to H.R. 2643 – the fiscal 2008 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act because it exceeds the President’s request by $2 billion. June 26 Support for Rep. Jeff Flake’s amendments to H.R. 2829, the fiscal 2008 Financial Services Appropriations Act that would prohibit funds from being used for many pork-barrel projects. June 28 Urging members to sign onto a letter written by Reps. Baron Hill (D-Ind.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) to FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin endorsing a free and fair auction of the 700 MHz spectrum. June 28 Urging support for an amendment to H.R. 2829, the fiscal 2008 Financial Services Appropriations that would prohibit funds from being used for the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission in Illinois. June 28 Urging support for an amendment offered by Reps. Pence, Flake, and Hensarling to H.R. 2829, the fiscal 2008 Financial Services Appropriations Act that would prohibit funds in the bill from being used by the Federal Communications Commission to impose a so-called “Fairness Doctrine” on broadcasters. June 28 Support and advocate for H. Res. 231, which will require committees to post all their votes online within 48 hours and bring transparency to the committee process. April 20 Opposition to H.R. 1591, the emergency war supplemental appropriations conference report that spends $21 billion more than the president requested, is loaded with pork-barrel spending, and trudges on executive branch prerogatives. April 25 Asking that the Rural Broadband Loan Program be abolished because of its failed policy and to encourage the marketplace to bring broadband services to rural areas. April 30 Asking them to oppose any increase in the federal cigarette excise tax. May 4 Asking to make their earmark requests available to the public. May 7 Opposition to H.R. 2093, or similar grassroots lobbying legislation, and any attempt to add the bill to the House lobbying reform bill that is scheduled to be marked up the week of May 14. May 9 Urging opposition to an amendment to H.R. 1427, the “Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2007,” that will weaken the ability of the new regulator to consider systemic risk to the nation’s entire financial system when reviewing the safety and soundness of the government-sponsored enterprises’ (GSEs) activities. May 16 Urging opposition to S. Con. Res. 21, the budget resolution that spends $2.9 trillion, $23 billion more in discretionary spending than the president requested, and will raise taxes on American families by at least $736 billion. May 17 Urging House to uphold any presidential veto on spending bills that contributes to an overall spending level that is higher than his budget proposal. May 24 Urging opposition to Amdt. 1 to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2206, the emergency supplemental appropriations, which will fund items not requested by the president. May 24 Applauding his efforts to re-launch the Republican Study Committee (RSC) “Truth in Testimony” project. May 24 Urging support for various parliamentary maneuvers to force House leadership to put earmarks with their sponsors in House committee reports and not just conference reports. June 12 Urging real reform in farm programs and not simply rubbing stamping current law. June 18 Opposition to H.R 5, which amends the Higher Education Act to reduce costs for student borrowers by cutting rate on subsidized student loans to 3.4 percent in 2011. Jan. 17 Opposition to H.R. 6, the Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation (CLEAN) Energy Act of 2007 that allows government to take money from our domestic energy companies and move it to a fund for the development of alternative energy programs. Jan. 18 Support for H.R. 476, which would amend title 5 of the U.S. Code to take away the pensions of Members of Congress who are convicted of certain offenses (such as perjury or bribery) while serving in their official duties. Jan. 23 Support for H.R. 689, the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2007. Jan. 29 Support for his bill, the Earmark Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007 that would bring more accountability to the earmark process by requiring agencies to only fund earmarks contained in the actual legislative text. Jan. 29 Opposition to H.J. Res. 20, a mini-omnibus as opposed to a real continuing resolution (CR). Jan. 31 Support for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance to federal agencies on how to obligate funds for fiscal year 2007, which directs agencies not to fund a project or activity unless it is identified in statutory text. Feb. 16 Opposition to H.R. 800, the “Employee Free Choice Act” that would take away a worker’s right to a secret ballot on whether to form a union or not. Feb. 27 Encouraging the committee to expand its review of the Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater Program, particularly the EADS-CASA CN-235 aircraft. Feb. 28 Opposition to H.R. 720, the Water Quality Financing Act of 2007. March 8 Joint letter from CCAGW and Americans for Prosperity in opposition to emergency supplemental because of its unrelated and excessive spending. March 12 Support of the Republican Study Committee’s “American Taxpayer Bill of Rights.” March 15 Asking her to oppose the emergency supplemental even though it contains funds for agricultural assistance to ranchers and farmers in her state. March 20 Opposition to Cyren Call petition. March 22 Opposition to the House Budget Committee budget resolution, H. Con. Res. 99. March 26 Support for an amendment to H.R. 1401, the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, that will prevent Amtrak from using any of the funds in bill from being used for any of the top ten revenue losing long-distance routes. March 27 Support for two Rep. Flake amendments to H.R. 1401, the Rail and Public Transportation Act of 2007, that will cut unnecessary grants and funding from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). March 27 Support for the House Republican Budget Committee will be offering an alternative budget to H. Con. Res. 99. March 28 Support for his resolution, H. Res. 169, which would amend House rules and bring more transparency to the earmarking process. March 30 House of Representatives Opposition to H.R. 2, minimum wage hike, and H.R. 4, a bill that would allow the federal government to “negotiate” prescription drug prices for Medicare. Jan. 9

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE