Senate Rules Com. Approves Feinstein Measure to Reform Earmark Process

Senate Rules Committee Approves Feinstein Measure to Reform Earmark Process
February 28th, 2006 @ 8:17 pm

Today, the Senate Rules Committee unanimously approved a proposal by Senator Dianne Feinstein to require 60 votes for any provision (earmark or otherwise) added to conference report that is not contained in the original Senate or House version of the bill. The approved measure was part of a larger package on lobby reform that was unanimously voted out of committee this morning.

The WaPo reported earlier today that the lobbying plan “will probably form the basis of the first of a series of bills in Congress this year designed to curtail lobbying after the Jack Abramoff political corruption scandal.”

“The time has come for a change in the way Congress does business,” Senator Feinstein said. “That is why it is so important that we move forward with making these changes to the Senate rules. The measure I introduced will help ensure that earmarks are not added in the dead of night, without full scrutiny from the House or Senate. Congress must demonstrate to the American people that the public interest is the only interest that Members and staff are serving.”

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