Senate Proceeding 03-04-09 on Mar 4th, 2009 :: 2:34:20 to 2:42:20
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2:34:12 to 2:34:33( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: quorum call: the presiding officer: the senator from a senator: mr. president, i ask that the quorum vitiated. th objection, the senator from colorado is recognized. a senator: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, i rise in support of the mccaskill-udall bill on

2:34:20 to 2:42:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mark Udall

2:34:34 to 2:34:54( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: reform and i am proud to be a co-sponsor of this bill so ably offered by senator mccaskill. this bill is designed to strengthen transparency and accountability in t way that congress authorizes and appropriates federal dollars. mr. udall: if there is ever a

2:34:55 to 2:35:16( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: time in our history when we needed to assure the american people that congress understands the need for reform and integrity and the process of authorizing and appropriating federal funds, it is now. it is today. it is our economy -- as our economy continues a deep slide into recession, we found necessary to stimulate recovery with historic levels of public spending.

2:35:17 to 2:35:38( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: now, the american people, mr. president, expect us to act with speed, but not haste. they also expect that federal spending will reflect critical national priorities and broader publ most of all, they expect congress to pass funding bills in ways that ensure wise use of taxpayer dollars.

2:35:39 to 2:36:00( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: those are the purposes of this legislation. it's not just about preventing the abuse of so-called congressional earmarks. it is rather about reassuring the dollars and the debt future generations will incur as a result of the spending will be debated in the sunshine of public scrutiny.

2:36:01 to 2:36:24( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: in short this bill is about restoring integrity to a legislative process that has for a number of reasons gone offtrack. it is about restoring public confidence in the legislative branch. now, mr. president, i say this without casting any ainspectors

2:36:25 to 2:36:45( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: general oaspersionson this institution or my former colleagues in the body. most of us have fought for earmarks to help our constituents and support worthy projects. along the way, however, the public has lost confidence in the integrity of this process. though there have been too many bridges to nowhere, the problem is as much about the process that yields these

2:36:46 to 2:37:07( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: earmarks. they are tucked into spending bills without an opportunity to debate or consider their merits or even their true authors. this bill brings important reform to the earmark process. first it requires that all earmarks be included in the text of bills rather than in a

2:37:08 to 2:37:28( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: separate statement of managers that is not technically part of the bill test. previous legislation allows senators to strip out earmarks from bill text only, not from the statement of managers. this reform will result in greater transpainsy because it will -- transparency because it will make it possible for any earmark to be stripped out of

2:37:29 to 2:37:49( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: the bill. second, the bill requires that all earmarks requeste by a senator be posted on the senator's website within 48 hours after the request. it also requires committees to post o their websites all information that senators are required to submit about an earmark request. including the name of the

2:37:50 to 2:38:11( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: proposed recipient, the location, purpose, and financial certification from senators certifying that they have no financial interest in that project. and all w receiving that wh -- that request. this has a check on the website

2:38:12 to 2:38:32( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: and has fuller transparency for it to be compiled in a central location. citizens know how to use the web and it is becoming a watchdog tool for government. instead of shrinking from it, i believe we should embrace this technology to inform our constituents and, yes, invite their comment and even criticism.

2:38:33 to 2:38:53( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: third, earmarks for private or nonprofit entities. by limiting earmark reques to the public sector, w avoid the risk of inadvertently helping a campaign donor or mixing a private gain with a public service. it ought to be community based and community supported. there ought to be a public

2:38:54 to 2:39:14( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: benefit that is recognized in a way that is accountable to public decision makers. fourth, this bill prevents earmarks from mysteriously negotiating in authorized bills. this prohibits the air dropping of earmarks in conference negotiations on appropriations

2:39:15 to 2:39:37( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: bills, but this reform would broaden that prohibition to include authorization bills which are often considered to be blueprints for the annual funding bills. let me be clear, mr. president. i admire the hard work of the committee chair and their staffs, it has led me to the conclusion that great effort is

2:39:38 to 2:39:58( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: made to assure integrity and accountability? spending bills. important and very often complex bills can be undermine in the public eye when individual earmarks are not carefully scrutinized. we can all agree that it often takes one bad apple to spoil even the best barrel and this provision is designed to keep out the bad apples.

2:39:59 to 2:40:20( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: fifth, the bill requires that all appropriations and authorization conference reports be electronically searchable at least 48 hours before they're considered by the full senate. this reform will help the public and congress identify earmarks added during conference in appropriation bills that can be thousands of pages long.

2:40:21 to 2:40:42( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: in conclusion, mr. president, i believe we can begin the important work of restoring public confidence in the way congress legislates if we ntinue on the path we began in 2007 with earmark and ethics reform. 6 this bill closes loopholes in th law that we passed in 2007

2:40:43 to 2:41:05( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: and strengthens accountability, transparency, and integrity. now, there's some, mr. president, who would argue for abolishing all earmarks, including those supporting governmental entities. i have to tell may be a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. at a time of economic cris, i believe it is important for senators to have tools that can

2:41:06 to 2:41:27( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: correct federal funding to job creating projects in their home states. for those of us who are not fortunate to be appropriators, the opportunity to offer carefully considered earmarks is important. i'm not -- i've not come to the conclusion that all earmarks are bad. it is the process of their consideration an conclusion that needs reform.

2:41:28 to 2:41:49( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: -- and conclusion that needs reform. along with a constitutional line item veto and other reform measures i believe -- in fact i know that we can construct a path of reform that is both fiscally responsible and in keeping with the highest eltsdz kaethicalstandards. with that i would ask that my

2:41:50 to 2:42:11( Edit History Discussion )

Mark Udall: report be printed in the record at the appropriate place with the text of this bill. the presiding objection, so ordered. note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.