WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) announced today that he will not pursue new earmarks in the Fiscal Year 2009 budget process. Jones joins fellow North Carolina Republicans Senator Richard Burr and Representatives Virginia Foxx and Patrick McHenry who have made similar pledges.

“It has become evident to me that the baby steps Congress has taken in attempting to fix the earmark process are nowhere close to sufficient,” Congressman Jones said. “Taxpayers demand open, transparent government, and the Congress is failing to deliver it. If the people’s faith in government is going to be restored, this Congress must change, and earmark reform is a great place to start.”

To help jumpstart the reform process, Jones has cosponsored H. Con. Res. 263 – legislation that would put a moratorium on earmarks until a bipartisan select committee holds public hearings and produces a report to Congress with recommendations for comprehensive earmark reform. H. Con. Res. 263 now has over 100 Republican cosponsors. House Republican Leadership, led by Minority Leader John Boehner, has urged Speaker Pelosi to institute the bill’s provisions, a move strongly supported by Congressman Jones.

For additional information, or to schedule an interview with Congressman Walter B. Jones, please contact Kathleen Joyce at (202) 225-3415.