Senate GOP To Vote On Budget Reforms

Next week, Republicans in the Senate will meet privately to elect our leaders and to consider changes to our conference rules. I wanted to let you know about two important reforms that will be proposed.

First, I will offer an amendment, with the support of several of my colleagues, to institute a Republican earmark ban in the Senate for the 112th Congress. House Republicans will adopt a similar ban next week under the leadership of Congressman John Boehner, and it's important that everyone in our party unite against wasteful pork-barrel spending.

The Senate earmark ban has been cosponsored by Senators Tom Coburn (OK), John Ensign (NV), Mike Enzi (WY), and John Cornyn (TX) along with Senators-elect Pat Toomey (PA), Marco Rubio (FL), Rand Paul (KY), Mike Lee (UT), Ron Johnson (WI), and Kelly Ayotte (NH).

If adopted, the GOP earmark ban will represent a very important step toward getting our fiscal house in order. While the cost of earmarks is not large compared to the entire budget, they are used to pressure senators into supporting budget-busting spending bills that have buried our nation under a mountain of debt.

As you know, many Republicans are still addicted to earmarks and won't give them up without a fight. I know it's difficult to quit this habit because I used to request earmarks too. But once senators give them up, they're free to fight against excessive spending without fear of retaliation. It's time for Republicans to lead by example on this issue so we can effectively stand together as a party against excessive spending.

Second, Senator John Cornyn and I will offer an amendment to make it the policy of our conference to support a constitutional amendment that forces Congress to balance the budget without raising taxes.

Today, forty-nine states have balanced budget requirements and families across the nation are forced to make the tough decisions to trim spending to make ends meet. It's time for the federal government to be forced to balance the budget every year.

These two budget reforms -- a ban on earmarks and a balanced budget amendment -- are critical to saving our country from financial collapse. I truly hope Republicans in the Senate will embrace both of these policies and then work toward getting them adopted by the full Senate.

As you may remember, I introduced these two reforms in the Senate this past February and made support for them a determining factor for endorsements through the Senate Conservatives Fund. You will be pleased to know that each of our five victorious candidates are getting right to work to advance these policies now that they've been elected.

I want to thank you again for supporting these principled leaders. Because of your generosity, we now have more voices in the Senate for the principles of freedom.

Respectfully,
Jim DeMint Signature