Hill GOP: Earmark reforms ‘gutted’

House Republicans introduced a measure yesterday to restore earmark reforms passed last year that they say were “gutted” by the Democratic leadership.

The measures passed by the House in 2006 allow lawmakers to vote on individual earmarks, specific funding requests attached to larger bills that often are called “pork” — a process Democrats have said they will not use as Congress considers the 12 annual spending bills. “Our resolution will restore the earmark reforms Republican put in place last year that have been unceremoniously gutted by House Democrats this year,” said House Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio. “They’ve traded earmark transparency for earmark secrecy, and American taxpayers deserve better.”

The only surprise by this is that anyone can be surprised by it.