DeMint Pushes GOP to Ban Earmarks

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., is on a mission against earmarks. He will try to force his fellow congressional Republicans to approve an across-the-board earmark ban during a private meeting of the Republican Conference next week, GOP aides tell Roll Call.

They say he will officially reveal his plans for the ban in a letter to Senators on Tuesday. DeMint [pictured] plans to offer a Conference resolution next week that would block all earmarks, including traditional spending earmarks, tax breaks for specific industries or individuals, and tariff benefits aimed at a specific industry or individual. The ban would apply only to Republicans.

To be sure, intraparty rules prohibit the Conference from requiring members to make specific votes, so any ban approved may not be observed. And it’s unclear how many GOP congressmen will back DeMint’s proposal.