Obey Questions Sincerity Of GOP Earmark Crusaders

Republicans might be railing against earmarks today, but House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) challenged them Wednesday evening to vote against a blanket repeal of these pet projects that he promised to attach to each spending bill that comes to the floor - if any do (given the current showdown).

Obey is questioning the sincerity of Republicans who have marched to the floor en masse this week to protest a move by the Appropriations chairman to wait to insert these projects into the bills until after the House and Senate have passed their own versions of each spending measure.

The two parties are deadlocked over the proposed changes, with Republicans threatening to stall the consideration of these bills on the floor until Obey or other Democratic leaders repeal the change.