Rep. Boehner asks for GOP meeting on earmark moratorium

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) tasked Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) to hold a conference-wide meeting on imposing a moratorium on earmarks.

The meeting, set for Thursday, was called to gauge where House Republicans stand on not asking for any earmarks for the 2011 appropriations bills.

Boehner said at a press conference on Wednesday that there was the need for a "real adult conversation" on the issue of whether Republicans should all agree to give up their right to ask for an earmark.

Several efforts to tamp down so-called "pork barrel" spending have gained steam in recent days.

Many lawmakers and reform groups have long pressed for earmark reform, saying the expenditures are wasteful and can lead to corruption.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has indicated he will force a vote on a one-year moratorium on earmarks when the Senate takes up its extenders bill, which is expected to happen Wednesday. 

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is planning to offer a privileged resolution on the House floor requesting better guidance from the ethics committee on taking campaign contributions from companies that accepting earmark dollars. 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is also trying to sell her party on an earmark moratorium as a means to get in front of Republicans on the issue. 

Republicans discussed passing a similar measure in the last Congress but a vote never materialized.

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