Cong. Jeff Flake - One Principed Leader

To provide some historic perspective on the earmark reforms passed by the Republican caucus.

It is a story of how one principled elected leader can make a difference.

Cong. Jeff Flake from Arizona forced earmark vote after vote in 2005 and 2006 and 2007. His own party hated him for it and the then Speaker of House Hastert stripped him of his best committee as punishment. But he did not quit. Sometimes only 10 or 20 members would vote with him but he kept fighting. He shined a light on this practice more than anyone. Loneliest place in Congress was the seat next to Flake in the House Cafeteria.

Cong. Flake was fighting to keep taxpayers like you and me from having to pay for things like the Teapot Museum in North Carolina and other pork-laden "bacon" which Congressional members could tout in their districts. It is a system fraught with corruption.

Thanks to that light of public scrutiny, the House GOP came around and the Republican caucus passed earmark reforms...something the Democrats had promised to do as they were draining the swamp in D.C. (remember that promise?) It appears that on the way to draining the swamp, Democrats rememberd why they benefitted from wallering in the murky, stinky swamp.

Americans for Prosperity Foundation had traveled the country cheering Cong. Flake on. AFPF held the 50-stop Ending Earmark Express RV tour hitting 37 states.

Congratulations, Cong. Flake (and thanks, AFP Foundation) but the real winners will be the American taxpayer who deserves for any spending measure to be fully vetted.