Congressional Earmark Ban Changes Business on Capitol Hill
Kate Brannen
Defense News
July 2, 2012
While the U.S. congressional earmark ban has not eliminated earmarks, it has changed the way business is done on Capitol Hill, moving it into the shadows and making it difficult for watchdog groups and lobbyists to figure out what’s going on.
“I don’t think people realize how much the earmark ban has changed the way things operate on Capitol Hill,” said Michael Herson, president of American Defense International (ADI), a Washington defense lobbying firm.
It has increased the power of the committee chairs, made it more difficult for small- and medium-sized businesses to have their needs addressed, and changed the way research and development projects are decided, industry and congressional sources said.
It could also be contributing to the political gridlock on Capitol Hill, as congressional leaders have fewer carrots to persuade members to vote for unpopular legislation.
“Many members are not as interested in bills any more, because they don’t have as much at stake in them,” Herson said.
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