Oregon Watchdog: Walden one of few to post earmark requests

U. S. Congressman Greg Walden
Oregon 2nd District
Press Release: March 27, 2008

Walden posts earmark requests
Taxpayer watchdog group: ‘Disclosing earmark requests is a good thing
and the people who do it voluntarily deserve our thanks’

- WASHINGTON, D.C. -
For the second year in a row, Congressman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) yesterday posted his earmark requests on his website, making him one of the few members of Congress to uphold a policy of full transparency in the earmarks process. He only submits requests on behalf of local, county, state, and federal government and non-profit groups, but does not submit requests on behalf of for-profit entities.

“Taxpayers have a right to know what projects their local representatives and non-profit organizations are pursuing with their hard-earned dollars,” Walden said. “As a federal representative, I am the liaison for local groups in the Second District to secure federal investment, and making sure those projects get the chance to be assessed is an important responsibility. It’s the public’s money, and we ought to be transparent about it. That’s why I post these requests online for all to see.”

Ryan Alexander, the president of the Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, told the Bend Bulletin that only a handful of legislators nationwide make earmark requests public.

“We definitely think that disclosing earmark requests is a good thing, and the people who do it voluntarily deserve our thanks,” Alexander told the Bend Bulletin.

Along with making his own requests public, Congressman Walden has advocated making the overall process more transparent. For example, he supported the proposal to make public the earmarks in appropriations bills well in advance of votes on the measures and to disclose the name of the member requesting the funding.

It will not be known for months which projects the committee decides to fund, and at what levels they will receive funding. Congressman Walden feels strongly that acting as the formal liaison to the committee on behalf of Oregonians is an important responsibility.

Because the committee works with a set budget cap, generally only a small number of requests receive federal investment. But without a request from a member of Congress submitting a request, these Oregon projects would not receive consideration for investment, and what limited funding might be available would be allocated elsewhere in the country.

For the full list of requests, visit http://walden.house.gov/_files/earmarkrequests.doc.

Other government transparency efforts that Congressman Walden is helping lead:

Congressman Walden is a cosponsor of H. Res. 504, which would require legislation and conference reports be available on the Internet for 72 hours before consideration by the House. The goal is to enhance public participation and openness in American democracy by allowing the opportunity for its review by State and local government officials, small business owners, large business leaders, journalists, scientists, academics, labor leaders, nonprofit organizations leaders, authors of weblogs, and interested citizens. The bill is sponsored by Congressman Brian Baird (D-Wash.).

Congressman Walden is cosponsor of H. Res. 231, which would to require that all committees post their recorded votes on their respective websites within 48 hours of such votes. American citizens should easily and consistently be able to see how their representatives are voting in committee.

Congressman Walden was an original cosponsor of H.R. 2102, the Free Flow of Information Act, which would create a federal shield law so journalists can protect their confidential sources and continue to contribute to a vibrant and free press. The bill, sponsored by Congressman Rick Boucher (D-Virg.), passed the House in October 2007 despite a veto threat from President Bush. The legislation has received no action in the Senate.

Congressman Greg Walden represents the people of Oregon’s Second Congressional District, which is comprised of 20 counties in eastern, southern, and central Oregon. He is a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and a member of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
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