On Wednesday, the U.S. House Republican Conference decided to lift the ban on earmarks.

U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., who sits on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, weighed in on the decision and threw his support behind it.

“Today, the House Republican Conference voted to amend the ban on earmarks to allow for Congressionally Funded Programs (CFPs). Future CFPs must be district-driven from the ground up and require full public disclosure and transparency, to include attaching a representative’s name and written justification for the program. I supported this motion, and have long believed that the best way to eliminate wasteful spending in Washington is to hold elected legislators accountable for district funding decisions, rather than leaving it at the hands of unelected Washington bureaucrats who have no accountability to taxpayers,” Rutherford said.

“The ban on earmarks has done nothing to lower the deficit, and has only empowered the Washington establishment by stripping the legislative branch of its Article I constitutional power to direct federal spending. Who is better at making decisions for a community – a member of Congress directly elected by their constituents or President Biden’s administration in Washington?” Rutherford asked.

“For earmarks to work for taxpayers, they must remain targeted and transparent and they must be district driven from the ground up. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am committed to critical oversight of taxpayer funds by the voters in my district. I believe strongly that this is a positive step toward more accountability and better stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” he said in conclusion.