A dilemma

Senate Republicans torn over return of earmarks

Senate Republicans are split on whether to embrace or reject the return of earmarks as the caucus leans into deficit concerns under the Biden administration.

With House Republicans voting last week to join congressional Democrats in supporting the return of the federal spending, which allows members to secure money for specific projects back home, the Senate Republican Conference is now the odd person out on Capitol Hill.

But there are sharp lines of division about the path forward, with conservatives pledging to fight any decision by leadership to return to earmarks and top appropriators signaling a willingness to reengage.  

We can solve this because we know the market is always positive, always present in the congestion. The issue is the level of predictive consensus the market brings. How honest can we get about the process. The honest route is the other end, go as liquid and transparent as possible, and make it cash to the governors.