Senate Democrat joins GOP pushing for earmark vote

Claire McCaskill says senators should go on-record for or against pork-barrel earmarks this week

Published November 16, 2010 4:50PM (EST)

Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill says senators should go on-record for or against pork-barrel earmarks this week and worries that her party will look out of touch if leaders block a vote or defend the practice.

McCaskill is a longtime opponent of the special spending requests that riled up the electorate this year. She said she's joining Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn in pushing for a floor vote as soon as Wednesday on whether to extend a moratorium through 2013.

The discussion comes a day after Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell reversed course and boarded the anti-earmark bandwagon, in a bow to voters who saw earmarks as a symbol of back room dealing and out-of-control spending.

House GOP leaders also are supporting an extension of the earmark moratorium.


By Laurie Kellman

MORE FROM Laurie Kellman


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

U.s. Senate