Senate Republicans, split on returning spending for pet projects after an 11-year ban on “earmarks,” are considering a plan that would impose strict ethical rules on any action.
In a series of internal rule changes the Senate Republican Caucus is considering for the next two years, several shown to Secrets would prohibit dishing lucrative earmarks that would benefit family members, former staffers, or companies that make political donations.
Despite an even split on the issue, Senate GOP aides said that they expect the group to OK returning earmarks, especially since President Joe Biden is planning to spend trillions in new infrastructure spending and every single state and congressional district has projects that need new money.
But unlike in the past, when earmarks were approved in secret, there is likely to be a new call for sunshine in the process.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, for example, opposes a return but is continue his fight if the conference approves them.
He has proposed several amendments to the “Rules and Resolutions of the Senate Republican Conference 117th Congress” to challenge them already.
His first would demand that the GOP conference vote on ending the moratorium on earmarks be recorded instead of kept secret.
The others would limit which projects could be approved. Banned would be any for family members, former staff members, organizations that employ family or former staff members, and any outfit that makes PAC donations, said a Senate GOP aide.
House Republicans approved the restoration of earmarks last month. The Senate GOP is expected to vote on them next week.
A spokesperson for Cruz said that he “has been clear for a decade now: he is firmly against earmarks and will stand in opposition to any attempts to overturn the earmark ban. The swamp is trying to bring earmarks back and Sen. Cruz is ready for the fight.”
Several other senators have vowed to fight the return of the spending. Utah Sen. Mike Lee, for example, plans to call for a continued moratorium with his amendment to the rules, which are reviewed and updated at the start of every new Congress.
Before the ban in 2010 and 2011, earmarks were considered useful tools to get legislation passed. But it became a scandal when too much spending went through that process.
