Zeldin Continues Earmark Assault

MASTIC, NY (03/21/2008)(readMedia)-- The endorsed Republican candidate for New York’s First Congressional District today continued his campaign-long efforts to champion the taxpayer while assaulting earmarks, Congressional pork and irresponsible governance.

GOP candidate Lee Zeldin signed earmark reform pledges with FreedomWorks and the Council for Citizens Against Public Waste, reaffirming his promise to change the Congressional culture of wasteful spending and champion government transparency.

“I am proud to sign these pledges and show the hardworking men and women of Eastern Long Island’s Middle Class that I’m serious about supporting them,” said Zeldin. “Any representative of our heavily burdened communities must never act as an enabler for wasteful government spending that promotes additional taxation.”

According to the Office of Management and Budget, earmarks are funds provided by the Congress for projects or programs where the congressional direction (in bill or report language) circumvents the merit-based or competitive allocation process, or specifies the location or recipient, or otherwise curtails the ability of the Executive Branch to properly manage funds. Congress includes earmarks in appropriation bills - the annual spending bills that Congress enacts to allocate discretionary spending - and also in authorization bills.

Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake has described earmarks as “pet projects” used by politicians to secure their political futures.

“In Congress, perception is often reality,” said Zeldin. “And when a member of Congress accepts campaign contributions from individuals within a company, and then awards that company a lucrative government contract, it sends the wrong message. I again call upon my opponent to join me in supporting a federal earmark moratorium and stop this cycle of irresponsible and wasteful leadership.”

Zeldin served as an aide to State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle. The Shirley resident studied at the University at Albany, graduated from Albany Law School, and earned his commission through Army ROTC. He was a paratrooper, prosecutor and magistrate with the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps. In the summer of 2006, he was a JAG attorney deployed to Iraq. He is currently an attorney at Raiser & Kenniff on Long Island.

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For more information on Lee’s campaign please visit us at www.zeldin08.com

Paid for by Lee Zeldin for Congress