Lankford Joins Senate Republicans in Continuing Earmark Ban

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford issued the following statement after the Senate Republican Conference today maintained its ban on earmarks for Republican Senators:

“I’m relieved Republicans maintained our long-standing earmark ban in the Senate Republican Conference. There are responsible ways to spend American tax dollars, and then there are earmarks. Every local government and nonprofit always needs more money. But earmarks do not prioritize essential national projects; they prioritize lobbying and bridges to nowhere. We do not need one more way to overspend in the Senate.”

Lankford signed on to a letter led by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) on Monday to keep the ban in place. In March, Lankford introduced a bill to permanently ban earmarks with Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and joined a letter led by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to Senate and House Appropriations chairs in opposition to the use of earmarks.

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