WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush said Monday he will issue an executive order directing federal agencies to ignore future earmarks not voted on by Congress.
The order, expected to be signed Tuesday, "will effectively end the common practice of concealing earmarks in so-called report language instead of placing them in the actual text of the bill," Bush said in a statement. "This means earmarks will be subject to votes, which will better expose them to the light of day and help constrain excessive and unjustified spending."
Bush is expected to address the matter of earmarks tucked into conference reports on legislation in the State of the Union address Monday, the White House said. He is expected to say he will veto any appropriations bill Congress sends him that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks by half.
White House press secretary Dana Perino said the executive order "take this action for 2009 appropriations" forward, not for earmarks contained in previous appropriations bills.
