Limit legislative budget earmarks to be allowed only when there is a budget surplus and increase the required advance disclosure of earmarks to a period of 90 days prior to a legislative vote.
Limit legislative earmarks to periods when there is a budget surplus and require 90 days' advance disclosure before a vote.
Occurrences
Evidence
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
John James said the House approved $162 million he requested for Selfridge, and the page says he requested $673 million total for the base project.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The House Appropriations Committee opened its FY27 portal for member requests and required members to post Community Project Funding requests to their websites by specified March/April deadlines.
Assessments
The promise was to impose two concrete federal earmark conditions: allow them only during a budget surplus and require 90 days of public disclosure before a vote. The evidence points the other way. In office, John James has actively sought and promoted Community Project Funding requests for Selfridge, indicating participation in the existing earmark process rather than limiting it. The House Appropriations guidance also shows the process still operates with member requests and much shorter posting deadlines, not a surplus-only rule or a 90-day disclosure requirement. There is no evidence here that James enacted, sponsored successfully, or materially advanced a reform that achieved either promised condition, and there is no shown serious failed attempt warranting an effort badge.