Natalie Gonnella
Today, GOP House members renewed their commitment to a voluntary ban on earmarks.
Congressman-elect Sean Duffy (also of MTV reality series fame) offered today’s motion, which passed unanimously amongst GOP members. Duffy today posted an op-ed in Politico where he stressed the need for the ‘pork barrel’ ban:
It was wasteful and outrageous spending that convinced me that I needed to run for Congress. Banning earmarks is a very important step for the more than 80 new Republican lawmakers entering Congress. It is their first step in changing the culture in Washington that finds trillion-dollar deficits acceptable; believes a $13-trillion debt is the cost of doing business, and thinks politicians and bureaucrats know better than families and bureaucrats know better than families and small businesses.
Speaker-designate John Boehner said the ban "shows the American people we are listening and we are dead serious about ending business as usual in Washington" (Reuters). Boehner also praised Duffy and his freshman counterparts for their efforts:
I applaud Rep.-elect Duffy for his leadership on this critical issue…He and the rest of his historic class of House freshmen are here because Washington Democrats refused to listen to the American people and stop the spending binge that threatens our children’s futures. – The Note, ABC News
Republican lawmakers originally adopted a year-long ban on earmarks in March of this year, however, according to CBS News, that “did not stop three members from requesting earmarks anyway.”
In response to Tuesday’s voluntary ban amongst Republican Senators, Democratic leader Harry Reid said he would allow a chamber wide vote on a binding, two year moratorium of the practice (USA Today). Only two Senate Democrats have supported the ban.
According to the New York Times, current Speaker Nancy Pelosi has yet to comment on today’s vote.
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