A More Conservative GOP After McConnell? Earmarks Offer Early Glimpse

WASHINGTON—Who succeeds Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) won’t officially be decided until after the November election, but just in the next few days an issue that has bedeviled Republicans for years could decisively shape the outcome. [epoch_component type=”photo_gallery” position=”column-right” section_title=”” width=”200″ items=”5602414,”][/epoch_component] The issue is earmarks—federal tax dollars set aside by individual senators and representatives for specific projects back home. More than 6,000 of which with a total value of $12.7 billion are included in a “minibus” package of six appropriations bills made public on March 3. Shortly after the six bills became public, Senate conservatives, including at least one who is expected to enter the succession contest, unleashed a barrage of tweets critically highlighting earmarks....