Steven Sauerberg on Government Reform Republican Challenger

End the era of mismanagement by the career politicians

One year moratorium on wasteful earmarks

An amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget would impose a year-long moratorium on congressional earmarks. "Last year, Dick Durbin and his friends in Congress passed out nearly 12,000 earmarks that cost the American taxpayer more than $17 billion," continued Sauerberg. "It is time to end this shameful special interest shell game."

Senator Durbin has one of the worst records in the Senate on controlling wasteful spending. "It is time to end politics as usual in Washington. It is time for our leaders in Washington to take steps to restore the faith and confidence of the American people," concluded Sauerberg. "A critical first step on this path is supporting this common sense one year ban on wasteful earmarks."

Use Executive Orders to cancel Congressional earmarks

This week, Sen. Durbin voted for a $555 billion omnibus spending bill--approximately $20 billion of which is pure pork or unnecessary spending. Unbelievably, th bill contains 696 pages of special interest earmark spending projects.

"The Democrats claim they want to reign in wasteful spending, yet they pass a bill containing 696 pages of wasteful earmarks," said Sauerberg.

According to many experts, Pres. Bush has the legal authority to cancel non-binding or vague earmarks by executive order. "The time for talk in Washington is over," continued Sauerberg. "Now is the time for Pres. Bush to step forward and defend Illinois taxpayers."