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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Betsy Hart, 202-226-8555

HERSETH SANDLIN STATEMENT ON EARMARK MORATORIUM

March 14th, 2008 Washington, DC- Rep. Herseth Sandlin issued the following comments today regarding her opposition to a one-year moratorium on all earmarks:

“I strongly support continued reform, increased accountability and transparency when it comes to earmarks. I was proud to help pass reforms that eliminated some of the worst problems, but I believe we should do more to eliminate wasteful spending and make sure that taxpayer dollars are jealously guarded and spent wisely. However, an earmark moratorium would likely result in less money spent on South Dakota priorities relative to those in other parts of the country. A moratorium would make it harder for our delegation to fight for important needs in South Dakota, particularly when the President decides not to fund these priorities in his budget.”

Herseth Sandlin added, “We don’t have to look any further than the President’s recommendation to zero fund Lewis and Clark to understand that these decisions need local input. Members of Congress—working with dedicated local leaders—should continue to have a voice in the process to ensure that local priorities get fair consideration. Every earmark that I’ve requested has been for important and worthy South Dakota priorities such as Lewis and Clark and Mni Wiconi water projects, upgrades to Ellsworth Air Force Base and Joe Foss Field, and road and highway transportation projects in communities large and small. Abandoning our place at the negotiating table would risk these priorities in the future.”

Herseth Sandlin noted the results of a recent study which revealed that funding was more evenly distributed throughout the country in Fiscal Year 2008 with congressionally directed funding than in Fiscal Year 2007 when the administration had sole discretion over allocated funds.

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Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.