John Barrasso

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Barrasso, Enzi Join Senators To Pull Pork

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Mike Enzi, both R-Wyo., are adding their efforts to a bipartisan measure by co-sponsoring language that would apply a year-long moratorium on congressional earmarks and stop pork projects from being funded in the next fiscal year.

“We need to bring fiscal sanity back to Washington ,” Barrasso said. “Congressional earmarks have skyrocketed. This amendment will provide the time-out we need to rein in this practice. The people of Wyoming deserve to know how their money is being spent. The process must include appropriate oversight and should be debated and voted on in the light of day for all to see.”

“This moratorium would halt earmarks for a year for all senators.  A year off from the frenzy of free funds will be a breath of fresh air for congress and for our constituents who demand to know what is being funded with their money and why. I hope this amendment will be part of the final budget and this will be the year of change," Enzi said.  "I’m tired of projects being air dropped in during the conference committee process after all the chances to vote down these bad ideas separately have ended. We need to stop this big-spending tactic."

Sponsors of the measure plan to offer the amendment as part of the budget resolution currently being debated by the Senate today. The amendment is co-sponsored by Senators Jim DeMint, R-S.C., John McCain, R-Ariz., Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Tom Coburn, R-Okla., John Kyl, R-Ariz., Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Richard Burr, R-N.C., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.