Today AFP sent a letter to Congressman Jeff Flake and Senator Jim DeMint commending them and offering our support in their efforts to ban earmarks. Congressman Flake is urging the House Republican Caucus to enact a earmark moratorium in next year's budget while Senator DeMint is supporting Speaker Pelosi's effort to stop congressional earmarks.

Earmarks have been a boondoggle of taxpayer money for far too long. In fact, AFP Foundation just released an earmarks study that found a strong correlation between Washington politicians who secure large amounts of earmarks and getting reelected. In effect, these politicians are using taxpayer-funded earmarks to bolster their reelection efforts.

We applaud Congressman Flake and Senator DeMint for taking the lead on earmark reform and will continue to urge other members of Congress to join them.