Larsen Makes Earmark Requests Public to Increase Transparency for Constituents
Press Release
Larsen Makes Earmark Requests Public to Increase Transparency for Constituents
To provide constituents with more information about his efforts to secure federal funding for 2nd District priorities, Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) has made public the list of earmarks he has requested for Fiscal Year 2009. The earmarks Larsen has asked the Appropriations Committee to fund reflect a range of local needs in all of the six counties he represents, including funding for transportation, law enforcement and national security.
"In the past several months, I have received an overwhelming number of requests for earmarks from local communities, constituents and organizations," said Larsen. "After careful consideration, the earmarks I am requesting this year reflect a range of local needs and would make a real difference for Northwest Washington families and communities."
Larsen has received over 140 requests from constituents and organizations asking him to request earmarks for the next fiscal year. In reviewing these requests, Larsen considered whether the project is located in the 2nd Congressional District and reflects 2nd District needs and priorities, whether the project is prepared to use federal funding effectively, and whether the project can be funded in an earmarked account. Of the over 140 requests he received this year, Larsen chose 59 to pass on to the Appropriations Committee. The Committee will evaluate all the requests they receive to determine which merit funding.
By releasing the earmarks he has requested for Fiscal Year 2009, Larsen is going beyond House disclosure rules in a personal effort toward greater transparency for his constituents. Rules put in place by the Democratic Majority last year require that any earmark included in an appropriations bill will be made public and attributed to the member who requested it.
"I have decided to share my earmark requests with the public to provide constituents with more information about my work to secure federal funding for local priorities," said Larsen.
Source