George LeMieux Calls to Ban Earmarks

With Congress headed back into session next week, outgoing Republican U.S. Sen. George LeMieux called on Thursday to ban earmarks.

Next Tuesday, members of the next session of Congress will vote on whether to continue the ban on earmarks, said LeMieux. While I will not take part in that vote, I strongly urge members to approve the ban and focus on ways to shrink government, end deficit spending, and pay down the national debt. Democrats should follow suit.

When Washingtons deficit spending is more than a trillion dollars a year and our national debt is rapidly approaching $14 trillion, its well past time for Congress to change its ways, added LeMieux, who has made fiscal responsibility one of his chief focuses during his tenure in Washington. Even though they are only a fraction of the budget, earmarks drive up support for bills that are 5, 10 or 20 percent more than last years spending. During my time in the Senate, I have refused to earmark special projects because our nation cannot afford the lard and debt lawmakers have racked up over the past few decades.