Earmarks are here to stay — at least for one more Congress.
House Republicans voted Wednesday against a proposed earmark ban during a conference rules meeting, a vote that held larger implications as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy seeks to become speaker.
The conference voted 52-158 against an amendment proposed by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., that would get rid of the current conference rule allowing members to earmark spending bills if they meet certain transparency criteria. One member voted present, according to a GOP aide who gave a readout of the closed-door vote.
