Some GOP Senators Will Ignore Party’s Earmark Ban

“Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), the top-ranking Republican on the appropriations committee, said after Wednesday’s meeting that GOP senators ‘absolutely’ could ask for earmarks now, despite the ban technically remaining in place as part of the conference rules,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

Said Shelby: “If you don’t want to earmark, don’t ask for one. Even if you ask for one you might not get one because the old earmark days, they’re gone.”

Others that will ignore the ban: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD).