Scott Garrett: “you raise a point: this is what they were saying last year but they are not doing it this year. We are hopeful that at…”

“you raise a point: this is what they were saying last year but they are not doing it this year. We are hopeful that at least now that we have discussed this on the floor, the information is out there, the discharge petition is going forward, although that has not been a secret because there is a line every day that we are in session here of Republican Members standing down in the well signing the discharge petition, so they know it is coming. But let me give you two other quotes of what folks from the other side of the aisle were saying last year about this. When they were talking about the measure that would only provide for appropriations and not authorizations last year, they said: "It is a half measure at best that would do nothing to stop wasteful and unnecessary projects like the bridge to nowhere." That was the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt). Finally, "My proposal requires the public disclosure of all earmarks, not just those of the Appropriations Committee, but authorizing and tax bills and much, much more." Who said that? Representative Slaughter from New York, now head of the Rules Committee. So we seem to have some very important people here last year from the other side of the aisle starting with Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, to head of the Rules Committee saying they agree with our ideas as far as broadening earmark reform and transparency.”