Chambliss Votes to Ban Earmarks; Supports Spending Reductions, Balanced Budget

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., released the following statement today regarding the need for Congress to cut spending:

"The American people are rightly concerned about reducing federal spending. Now that there appears to be an agreement to oppose earmarks, I hope Congress will begin a serious discussion of how to cut federal spending on larger, more meaningful scale.

"I have consistently voted for the elimination of earmarks in the past and supported the earmark-moratorium resolution today. However, there are times when crises arise or issues come forth of such importance to Georgia, such as critical support to the port of Savannah, and the nation that I reserve the right to ask Congress and the president to approve funding."

In his eight years in the Senate, Chambliss has consistently supported legislation to reduce out-of-control spending. In addition to the earmark moratorium, Chambliss also voted for several other non-binding resolutions to address federal spending in a meeting of the Senate Republican conference today. They include resolutions:

* placing a moratorium on creating new unfunded mandates and new entitlement programs.
* stating that a balanced-budget amendment to the United States Constitution is necessary to restore fiscal discipline.
* stating that $12 billion of unspent stimulus funds should be canceled.
* urging a net federal hiring freeze on non-security employees.
* calling on Democrats to adopt an earmark moratorium.
* recommending that non-security discretionary spending should be reduced to inflation-adjusted FY 2008 levels.

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