WASHINGTON — The intraparty debate among House Republicans on a proposed earmark ban is heating up, with an influential GOP activist figure weighing in against maintaining the practice in the 118th Congress.
Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist — oft-credited with keeping Republicans unified against tax increases for decades by making members sign anti-tax pledges — wrote to members Friday in support of reinstituting the GOP conference’s earmark ban.
“Earmarks provide a pathway for members of Congress to spend money on special interests,” Norquist wrote. “This kind of frivolous spending is disrespectful to American taxpayers and a flagrant violation of congressional duty to be responsible for taxpayer funds.”
