LIVONIA -- Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11) is only one of 45 out of 435 Members of the House of Representatives who have voluntarily released earmark requests for fiscal year 2008 to the public. He has also released the requests to local and national media, and is one of only three Members of Congress to post earmark requests on his official web site.
McCotter explained he seeks input from local units of government and educational institutions when making appropriations requests.
"Because transparency is necessary and proper for honest, open, and accountable government; and, further, as that government is best which governs closest to the people, here are the earmarks I have requested at our local elected and community leaders behest," McCotter said. “Importantly, my constituents and Michigan are NOT asking for more new federal spending; we are demanding our fair share of existing federal spending. Thus, I still support the universal elimination of earmarks. But I will not unilaterally disarm my donor state so others can continue taking our hard earned tax dollars for their pork.”
The following are Congressman McCotter's earmark requests for fiscal year 2008: