My colleagues and I warned Democratic leaders that if they insisted on bringing their appropriations bills to the floor under Obey's plan, Republicans would fight back. When the first of their spending bills came up earlier this week on Tuesday they ignored the warning. That's when Republicans went on offense.
We relentlessly highlighted Democrats' broken promises on earmark reform, and assailed the majority for gutting Republican reforms that give each lawmaker the right to challenge individual earmarks on the House floor. Less than two days later, Democrats capitulated.
This was a team effort -- plain and simple. Everyone from Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-TX, and the Republican Study Committee to Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, and his budget committee team; from Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-CA, and his appropriations team to our leadership and everyone in between -- we won this by sticking together. Of course, we also had some help from the outside - notably the "Porkbusters" coalition that rallied taxpayers across the country to sign a letter offering to help Obey and House Democrats review their secret earmarks.
While this victory is good news for taxpayers, Republicans will continue the fight until the rest of our 2006 reforms are restored. I have introduced a resolution that would fully restore those reforms by allowing earmarks in tax and authorizing bills to be challenged, and Republicans will file a discharge petition to force it to a vote on the floor if necessary.
When I first ran for Congress, I told the people of my district that if they wanted a Member of Congress who would go to Washington to raid the federal Treasury on their behalf, they should not vote for me. I believe we need fewer earmarks in Congress, and I believe we need an earmark process that is open and accountable to the taxpayers whose money Congress spends.
Of course, if Democrats fail to live up to their promises and to the agreement they made with me and my colleagues they know what's in store: a united Republican Conference that will be back on the House floor highlighting their secret earmarks once again.