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Tuesday, June 19, 2007
New Earmarks Procedure Approved by House
Casey Stengel, once asked about an unorthodox baseball strategy, replied, "Well, they say it couldn't be done, but it don't always work."
Yesterday, the House formally approved new earmarks rules, permitting points of order on appropriations conference reports if new earmarks have been added during conference. After only twenty mintues of debate following such a point of order, the House will vote on whether to consider the conference report.
The rule only applies to spending, not tax earmarks; it also requires earmark sponsors' disclosure of financial interest in a project. It otherwise is identical to a House rule adopted by the GOP-controled House last October.
In practical terms, the impact of the rule may be limited. Last week, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) said this about how votes have gone in his past efforts to challenge earmarks on the House floor: "I get beat like a rented mule."
Posted by Dana Chasin
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