Peekskill, NY/March 19, 2008 – Kieran Lalor, the Republican candidate for Congress in New York's 19th Congressional District, announced today that he has signed the "Earmark Pledge" that Freedom Works, a nationwide grassroots organization devoted to less taxes and smaller government, is urging candidates to sign as a show of commitment to good government.

"After what we've seen from the Congress and others, especially in New York, voters are right to demand an end to corruption and waste. I am proud to sign the Earmark Pledge. It is a pledge to good government, which is a foundation of my campaign. I believe that Congress should operate with transparency, not old boy secrecy. If something merits spending, there ought to be an up or down vote."

The Earmark Pledge reads as follows:

"EARMARKING, The practice by which members of Congress divert taxpayer funding to special projects outside of the normal oversight and authorization process, has grown out of control and is open to waste and abuse.

THEREFORE, I, in my capacity as congressman/senator/ president, do hereby pledge that I will personally support spending reform in Congress by refusing to seek, support, or enact earmarks during the appropriations process for fiscal year 2009."

Lalor also noted that Congressman John Hall has been sharply criticized for repeatedly maneuvering behind closed doors with other House Democrats to "air drop" dozens of pork barrel spending projects into appropriations bills. "John Hall and Sen. Harry Reid defended their practice and dozens of 'bridges to nowhere,'and they seem to believe that politicians have a God-given right to treat tax dollars like Monopoly money."

""John Hall needs a Civics lesson,"" said Chris Covucci, Lalor's Communications Director, who added that in recent years, earmarks have devoured up to $17 billion in taxpayer money. "It is inconceivable that in the face of this kind of waste, John Hall wants to raise taxes on working class families in the Hudson Valley. And it is another striking example of arrogant politicians abusing the public trust."

Online: http://www.earmarkpledge.com/