Senate GOP Nearing Decision on Whether to Embrace Earmarks
- Key Republican Shelby says lawmakers should have option
- House GOP voted last month to allow member designated projects
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at the U.S. Capitol on April 13.
Photographer: J. Scott Applewhite/AP/Bloomberg
This article is for subscribers only.
Senate Republicans are nearing a decision on whether to embrace the return of earmarked spending that could smooth the passage of annual appropriations bills and the transportation portion of President Joe Biden’s $2.25 trillion infrastructure proposal.
Momentum is building among Republicans for allowing each senator to choose whether to direct spending to projects in their home states. The top Republican on the Appropriations Committee said Tuesday that because Democrats are already going to go forward with earmarks, it’s up to individual Republicans whether to benefit.