Republicans double down on Democrats earmark move

House Democrat David Obey must feel a little sick to his stomach about right now. A day after he announced a ban on earmarks for private companies, Republicans will up the ante calling for a prohibition on all targeted spending projects.


Roll Call reports

House Republican leaders plan to call for an immediate, across-the-board earmark ban during a special meeting of the GOP Conference on Thursday, according to a draft of a joint leadership statement obtained by Roll Call.

Their proposed moratorium would include tax and tariff-related earmarks.

“We will support changing the official rules of the House Republican Conference to incorporate such a moratorium when a special conference meeting on the matter takes place Thursday,” the release said.

A majority of the Republican Conference must vote in favor of the proposal in order to change their internal rules. Republicans are scheduled to discuss the possibility of implementing the earmark ban at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Capitol Visitor Center.

Nicely played, gentlemen. Nicely played.