http://walz.house.gov/apps/lis...
For Immediate Release
April 6, 2009
Contact: Meredith Salsbery
507-388-2149
WASHINGTON D.C. - Continuing his fight to improve transparency and accountability in Washington, Congressman Tim Walz today unveiled an updated earmark process that reaches new levels of public transparency, emphasizing investments that create jobs and long lasting public benefits. Walz also announced the First District needs for economic recovery he forwarded to the House Appropriations Committee.
"Local leaders from communities across southern Minnesota requested funding for an unprecedented number of projects to improve our quality of life in southern Minnesota and create jobs in this challenging economy," said Walz. "I'm confident based on a thorough review of the applications that the projects I am requesting will produce a return on the investment made by the taxpayers of southern Minnesota."
It is the constitutionally-mandated role of Members of Congress to appropriate federal funding. These funding requests do not add extra spending to the federal budget. Instead, they set aside for a specific project funds that would otherwise be spent by a federal agency.
The reformed earmark process, which was championed and led by Walz, now requires Members to post all earmark requests and requested dollar amounts on their website, as well as the potential recipient, information about the necessity of the project, and contact information for requestors. A fact sheet is attached detailing Walz's leadership on earmark reform.
"Local leaders who are closest to understanding our deeply unmet needs in southern Minnesota brought these projects to our attention," said Walz. "I am pleased to stand up for veterans, farmers, the National Guard, educators, cancer research, Highway 14 and other critical public investment projects."
"While it is likely that only a few of these meritorious projects will ultimately receive funding, I believe it is important for residents of southern Minnesota to be able to see the list of projects I am supporting and I am proud to release this information about priorities."
All projects were reviewed for meeting at least one of the key criteria set by Walz:
Transformative: has the potential to make a significant improvement in the economy of a community or drastically improve safety for residents.
Cost-Effective: uses limited funds efficiently and effectively in a way that drives local economic development.
Job Creators: creates, saves or attracts jobs in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District.
The Five-Step Appropriations Process:
Step 1: Every year, Congressman Walz proactively invites applications from localities and nonprofits that wish to request appropriations. Walz does not accept applications from for-profit entities.
Step 2: Based on a combination of written applications, phone conversations, and project tours, Walz reviewed projects based on being transformative, cost-effective and job creators.
Step 3: Upon submission to the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Walz has publicly posted his FY2010 requests, which are also attached to this release.
Step 4: Also at the time the request is made, the Congressman sent the committee a letter certifying that he will not benefit financially from any earmarks.
Step 5: When the appropriations bill comes up for a vote, it will be accompanied by a list identifying each earmark in it and which member requested it. These tables will be made publicly available ahead of the vote and Walz will release to the press a list of projects that ultimately receive funding and the amounts they receive.
Here's the link to the Congressman's 2010 Fiscal Year Appropriations Requests (pdf)
http://walz.house.gov/pdf/FY20...
I spy information for the public!
(Which is something that Congress is supposed to do on their websites)
We get the project name, project city, amount requested, and even the address of the requestee.
These projects really seem like the other white meat, don't they?
No?
Here's Congressman Walz's Record on Earmark Reform
THE WALZ RECORD ON EARMARK REFORM
April 2009
This is Congressman Tim Walz's third year requesting appropriations projects for Minnesota's 1st District and in each successive year, Walz has insisted on increased transparency and asked his colleagues to join him in publicly disclosing information.
2007: Walz was the only member of the Minnesota delegation to release a complete list of his appropriations requests for FY2008.
Also in 2007, Walz successfully pushed to reform the previously secretive appropriations process in Congress. Under new rules implemented by the Democratic Majority that year, any project funded in an appropriations bill was and continues to be publicly attributed to the Member who requested it. Additionally, Members of Congress now must publicly certify that they do not have any financial interest in a project that they are requesting.
2008: Walz was the first member of the Minnesota delegation and one of only a handful of Representatives to include the dollar amount he requested in his public disclosure of FY2009 appropriations requests.
2009: Walz set out criteria to ascertain the impact each project will have on southern Minnesota. He is also making public additional details about projects public, including the requesting party, fiscal agent, and information supporting the necessity of the project.
Walz has posted his requests online every year of his tenure in Congress. He supports the added scrutiny this year which requires all Members of Congress to publish earmark requests and dollar amounts requested on their website at the time the requests are submitted to the House Appropriations Committee.
Congressman Walz goes above and beyond the current "added scrutiny" required of his fellow members of the House.
I call on all Members of the U.S. House to follow Congressman Walz's lead and post the information that will help educate the public.
Knowledge is power. An empowered knowledgeable electorate is better able to make decisions about its representation. Transparency forces "crooked" politicians to come out into the light about their so-called "pork" projects. If we're educated as to why something deserves appropriation we are better able to judge appropriations bills not by talking points, but by factual, relevant, transparent information.
I thank Congressman Walz for his commitment to transparency and once again urge his colleagues to follow suit. |
