– The new Republican chairwoman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Kay Granger, hints at controversial changes to how the chamber earmarks spending.
– Earmarks are state and local funding requested by Congress members.
– These changes have created drama among the divided House, mainly infuriating Democrats.
Revamping Earmarks: A New Shuffle in the House Rules?
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee is under new management, courtesy of Republican Chairwoman Kay Granger. She’s hinted at renovating the way the chamber earmarks spending, stirring the pot among House members. Earmarks, for the uninitiated, are the slices of the fiscal pie requested by Congress members for state and local funding.
Drama, Dissent, and Democrats
Since Granger’s cryptic allusion to “tweaking” earmarks, the House has become a tempest in a political teapot. The Democrats are less than enthusiastic about these implied changes, igniting further division in the already fractured House.
The Breezy Take
Forcing change in a long-established system like Congress was never going to be smooth sailing. Kay Granger’s intentions to modify earmarks have caused a ruckus, notably among Democrats. As this develops, two things are certain: we can expect some fiery debates in the House, and we’ll be here to keep you informed and entertained with the news as it unfolds.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/10/congress-brought-back-earmarks-now-theyre-one-more-point-of-drama-in-a-divided-house/