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Senate GOP Looks at Earmark Reform

4:10 PM, Jan 31, 2008 • By BRIAN FAUGHNAN
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The Senate always moves more slowly than the House, and that is proving true on reforming earmarks as well. But for advocates of fiscal reform, there is some movement on this front. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has appointed a working group to study earmarks and recommend reforms:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the fiscal reform working group would recommend ways for the Senate to bring about greater transparency and fiscal responsibility to government spending. The group will report findings to the Republican Conference by March 15.

McConnell appointed one of the Senate's best-known foes of earmarks, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), but not Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), a vocal opponent of lawmakers' pet projects who has sometimes clashed with party leaders on the issue...

A GOP leadership aide, who said the task force would have a wide jurisdiction, noted it includes members from the Appropriations and Finance committees, as well as a top reformer in Coburn. The broad membership is intended to ensure the best recommendations on earmarks are provided.

And of course, whatever heartburn may be caused among conservatives about Senator McCain's status as the GOP frontrunner, one thing is certain: he's 'right' on pork-barrel spending. If McCain is the nominee, the Democratic candidate will have a hard time attacking him on spending issues, and on this issue at least, he's likely to have the full support of Congressional Republicans.

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