Hartzler votes to ban earmarks

The following news release was issued today by Congresswoman-Elect Vicky Hartzler:

Missouri 4th District Congresswoman-Elect Vicky Hartzler, in Washington, D.C. for New Member Orientation, has taken a stand for fiscal responsibility by joining her U.S. House Republican colleagues in voting to extend their ban on budget earmarks - a controversial process which directs money to pet projects of federal lawmakers.


"It is time to get serious about attacking runaway government spending and balancing our budget," said Hartzler after casting her vote. "This is a good first step. We will begin the new session of Congress knowing we are protecting hard-earned taxpayer dollars."

Earmarks have been targeted by grassroots and Tea Party activists as a symbol of government waste. Hartzler and other new Members of Congress vowed, during the election campaign, to rein in wasteful government spending and to end the earmarks process.

In extending the ban on earmarks for the next two years Republican House Members adopted a policy similar to one approved by GOP Senate Members earlier this week.