The "Godfather of the Recall", Congressman Darrell Issa made a commendable step toward fixing our party's problem with pork spending in Congress last week.  Issa is also the resuscitator of the now dead Electoral College reform measure that would have distributed California's Electoral College delegates by Congressional District instead of winner take all. 

Under the policy changes announced today, Rep. Issa will not make Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations requests on behalf of for-profit entities.  In addition, local governments and non-profits will be asked to have their councils or boards approve requests in a public meeting.

This Republican blogger is glad to see local members of Congress trying to curb this abuse.  If their is not a clear difference between our party and the Democrats when it comes to spending (or illegal immigration for that matter) it erodes the base of the GOP.

People stop caring about the party when the party stops caring about the issues that drew those people to the GOP to begin with.  More than Iraq, Katrina or Larry Craig - the abandonment of our principles on spending and pork hurt our chances of taking back Congress.  It is good to see that Congressman Issa is part of the solution - not the problem.

Issa Tightens Rules for Federal Funding Requests

January 25, 2008 -
Washington, DC -Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), today, announced new more stringent guidelines for entities seeking Federal funds through his office.  Under the policy changes announced today, Rep. Issa will not make Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations requests on behalf of for-profit entities.  In addition, local governments and non-profits will be asked to have their councils or boards approve requests in a public meeting.
 
"These new requirements for funding requests I make on behalf of the 49th district are a part of my efforts to change the way the House spends taxpayer dollars," said Rep. Issa, who expects the new guidelines to result in fewer requests.  "The wisdom of Congress legislatively mandating 11,000 individual expenditures, as it did last year, is highly dubious.  Taxpayers would be better served if funding decisions for many of these projects were made by Federal agencies."
 
Under the new guidelines, public agencies and non-profit organizations seeking designated Federal funding in Congressional spending bills must submit fully completed applications to Rep. Issa's office by February 22.  Rep. Issa will not consider requests made by businesses or other for-profit entities.
 
Project requests that have been previously approved in Congress' authorization process and transportation projects that are part of a regional transportation plan will be given preference over those that are not.  As in the previous two years, Rep. Issa will publicly release the name of the requesting entity, a description, and the amount requested for each project Rep. Issa agrees to submit for review.
 
 "The Federal government plays an essential role in helping build transportation and other public infrastructure projects but Congress tries to micromanage too many projects," said Rep. Issa.  "Accountability for the widely acknowledged wastefulness of using federal funds for the proposed 'Bridge to Nowhere' in Alaska and the $2 million "Monument to Me " that Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) secured for the "Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service" in New York.
 
In 2006, Rep. Issa became one of the first Members of Congress to disclose all appropriations project requests, and in 2007, he urged his colleagues (see attachment) to make a similar disclosure.  Last year, a majority of California Republican Members of Congress disclosed their appropriations project requests.
 
The new guidelines are a part of his continued efforts to force the federal government to act more fiscally responsible.  He has pledged to be flexible in helping local governments and agencies comply with these new guidelines for requests and in addressing urgent needs for funding as they arise.