Earmarks Split Senate Republicans

The Senate has officially kicked off its process for inserting “congressionally directed spending” into appropriations bills for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, with almost all Democrats but only 15 Republicans in that chamber participating thus far, Roll Call reports.

“The number of GOP senators requesting earmarks is of particular interest after the party opted to leave its ‘permanent ban’ on earmarks in its rules earlier this year during a closed-door meeting.”