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Byrd preempts gop on earmark disclosure |
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By Elana Schor
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Posted: 04/17/07 08:05 PM [ET] |
The Senate Appropriations Committee will begin adhering to earmark-disclosure rules that were approved earlier this year but have yet to be signed into law, heading off a Republican effort to pass the rules, Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) announced yesterday.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and four GOP colleagues moved to pass the earmark-disclosure standards officially by unanimous consent yesterday after informing Democratic leaders of their plans. Democrats objected and cited Byrd’s announcement, which was sent minutes before the Republicans made their request.
Under Byrd’s new edict, senators will begin the 2008 appropriations cycle by identifying earmarks in all bills and committee reports, using the earmark standards crafted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and attached to the Senate ethics bill by DeMint. The recipients and purpose of earmarks will be specified, and senators will be required to certify their lack of financial interest in earmarked projects.
DeMint called the Appropriations announcement “really good news” that should not prevent the Senate’s earmark rules from becoming official. “If appropriators want to comply, there’s no reason at all why we shouldn’t enact this rule as a Senate rule,” DeMint said on the floor.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) objected on behalf of the majority, asking for more time to conference statutory ethics changes with the House. “We believe that […] taking it piece by piece is not the best way to accomplish our goals,” Durbin said.
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