Earmarks Still Alive for House Republicans

Roll Call is reporting that Republican Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, rejected the recent House Republican earmark ban by requesting 41 projects totaling more than $100 million for his Congressional district.  Paul defended his decision to request projects, saying he needed to make sure his constituents benefited from their federal tax dollars.  He also expressed his belief that earmarks increase transparency because the public can see where their federal dollars are being allocated.  “They [the House Repulbican leadership] asked me whether I would sign on to the moratorium, and I said no, it doesn’t fit my philosophy because I think we should designate every penny that we spend,” Paul said.

Paul seems an unusual proponent for earmarks, given his popularity as a libertarian icon among conservative Republicans, many of whom oppose earmarks. 

Paul is one of a handful of Members to publicly challenge the House Republican leadership’s earmark ban.  Another is Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao of Louisiana.  Cao’s chief of staff told Roll Call that “Congressman Cao disagrees with their decision, and he refuses to stop fighting for projects that will help his district recover from the storms.  We submitted earmark requests and will work with Members on both sides of the aisle to secure money for local education initiatives, storm protection projects, economic development, and to fight crime (among others).”