Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., argued Wednesday that his plan to change House rules to let lawmakers pick and choose which Army Corps of Engineers projects take priority is not a plan to allow the return of earmarks, which let members direct money to pet projects in their districts.

“It has nothing to do with money,” Rooney told reporters as lawmakers went into a closed-door session to determine their rules for the 115th Congress and vote on each proposal by secret ballot. “It has to do with who gets to say what projects get done and when and where.”