For Immediate Release – Jan. 22, 2010
Contact: Jeff Crank, Colorado State Director, (719) 332-8644

Congressman Mike Coffman Becomes First Incumbent to Sign AFP Colorado Earmarks Pledge

COLORADO SPRINGS – U.S. Congressman Mike Coffman (R- CO) has become the first incumbent member of Congress to sign the AFP Colorado Earmarks Pledge. Coffman joins seven candidates for Congress from Colorado to sign the pledge.

The pledge reads: ““Earmarking” is a process used by members of Congress in both political parties to redirect taxpayer funds to identified projects without going through a rigorous merit review process. The practice of earmarking has increasingly contributed to misuse, fraud and abuse in the federal budgeting process and wastes the hard-earned money of working families in Colorado.

I, ______, a member of/candidate for the U.S. Congress from Colorado do hereby pledge to my constituents that I will refuse to seek or support earmarks during the Congressional appropriations process through the end of the 112th Session of Congress in 2012.”

Two weeks ago the pledge was sent to every member of Congress from Colorado as well as candidates for U.S. Congress from Colorado. “Congressman Mike Coffman has shown that he is willing, not just to talk the talk but to walk the walk when it comes to earmark reform and fiscal discipline,” said Jeff Crank, Colorado State Director of Americans for Prosperity. “So many members of Congress talk about fiscal responsibility but seem to think different rules apply to them – Congressman Coffman has chosen to do the right thing by future generations. He has chosen to be a leader in the Colorado delegation and a leader in Congress on this issue.”

Other Colorado Congressional Candidates that have signed the pledge are:
U.S. Senate: Jane Norton, Cleve Tidwell, Ken Buck
Congressional District 3: Scott Tipton, Bob McConnell
Congressional District 4: Cory Gardner, Tom Lucero
Congressional District 7: Jimmy Lakey