Good morning friends.

You may be pleased to know that I have joined many of my colleagues in requesting Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Obey to secure their commitment that thousands of earmarks with billions of dollars will not be airdropped into a potential continuing resolution or omnibus-spending bill. We have asked this because it is becoming increasingly unlikely that the fiscal year 2009 appropriations bills will be considered on the floor of the House of Representatives this session.

To date, five appropriations bills including more than 2,000 earmarks worth more than $2.2 billion have been favorably reported by the Appropriations Committee. Media reports have also indicated that the ultimate level of spending on earmarks in the fiscal year 2009-appropriation bills could be as high as the $18.3 billion spent on earmarks last year. Even those who support the practice of earmarking agree that these earmarks should be subject to debate on the House floor.

Speaker Pelosi has previously indicated her commitment to “auditing the books and subjecting every facet of federal spending to tough budget discipline and accountability.” We hope she would agree that allowing earmarks to be approved in spending bills without so much as a cursory vetting on the House floor would be inconsistent with this pledge.