By Brian Faler March 11 (Bloomberg) — House Republicans announced they will not request any so-called earmarks in an election-year attempt to outdo Democrats in clamping down on the practice of adding money for pet projects to legislation. Republicans agreed to a moratorium in a closed-door meeting today, said Representative Jerry Lewis of California, the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee. Yesterday, House Democrats said they wouldn’t fund earmarks for defense contractors, energy firms and other companies. Critics say earmarks for companies amount to no-bid contracts for groups that contribute to lawmakers’ re-election campaigns. Both parties are attempting to turn what has been bipartisan support for the earmarking process into a partisan issue they can take to voters, who polls show are concerned about rising federal spending and deficits. Republican leaders issued a joint statement yesterday urging their colleagues to give up projects they called “a symbol of broken Washington.” Lewis, a prominent defender of the earmarking practice, told reporters earlier today he was supporting the moratorium because “you guys paint the picture one way — we’ve got to be responsive.” To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Faler in Washington at or bfaler@bloomberg.net .
View original post here:
House Republicans Eschew Election-Year Earmarks in Bid to Outdo Democrats
