House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., took a bow Thursday, responding to an annual report on congressional earmarks which found the number of pork projects declined in fiscal year 2009.

"Today the conservative group Citizens Against Government Waste reported on the earmark reforms undertaken by Congress since the Democrats won the majority in 2006," said Hoyer in a statement. "The report was highly positive, noting a 15.5 percent decrease in the cost of earmarks from fiscal year 2009, progress that the group credits to 'greater transparency' and 'reforms that were adopted since Democrats took over Congress in 2006.'"

CAGW President Tom Schatz agreed, with some qualifications.

"Credit for reducing earmarks goes far beyond the Democratic leadership," Schatz said. "Lots of pressure has come from taxpayers and the Tea Party. However the majority leader is correct that Republicans did not do enough and their moratorium, while stricter than [Democratic efforts], is something we think they should have done years ago before they lost their majority."