The Sconi

Despite pushback from conservative groups, Republicans recently responded to moves by Democrats overturning an internal party prohibition on earmark spending that has led to past corruption in some cases.

In March, the Washington Examiner reported that House Republicans voted to end an internal party ban on the practice of members requesting funds for their districts.

However, there is a caveat. GOP representatives must provide written justification for why the project is a suitable use of tax money and show neither they nor immediate family members will benefit.

“Congress has a long history with earmarks, one which demonstrates that the practice almost exclusively ends in the funding of absurd and useless projects, as well as member corruption,” the Conservative Action Project (CAP) said in a statement urging Republicans to oppose lifting the internal ban.

As recently as the 2000s, earmarks were commonly used for buying and selling votes, CAP said.

“Earmarks brought discredit on the House and Senate and ultimately led to several members of Congress being convicted on corruption charges,” the release said.

The move by Republicans followed action by Democratic members of the House lifting the general ban for representatives, according to coverage by Roll Call. Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) made claims at the time that the House would seek to bring back the practice of permitting members to seek direct funding for projects in their district in a responsible manner.

“We are in good faith negotiations with the House and my Senate colleagues to bring back congressionally directed spending in a transparent and responsible way, and those discussions are ongoing,” Leahy said, Roll Call reported. “I believe there is bipartisan support to restore the power of the purse to Congress, and I am continuing to work toward that goal.”