House GOP joins Dems in no-earmarks pledge

House Republicans announced they won't request any so-called earmarks in an election-year attempt to outdo Democrats in clamping down on the practice of adding money for pet projects to legislation.

"The American people want us to change business as usual in Washington, D.C. — the contrast will be startling in the days ahead," Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, the third-ranking Republican, told reporters after his party's closed-door meeting.

Wednesday, House Democrats said they wouldn't fund special projects for defense contractors, energy firms and other companies though they would continue to use earmarks for public or nonprofit groups. Critics say earmarks for companies amount to no-bid contracts for groups that contribute to lawmakers' re-election campaigns.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, of Maryland, said Democrats won't match the plan announced Thursday by Republicans, who he said increased the number of earmarks dramatically when they controlled Congress.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, said the one-year ban would apply to all earmarks including traditional ones and those carved out of the tax code and tariff-related earmarks.

Both parties are attempting to turn what has been bipartisan support for the earmarking process into a partisan issue they can take to voters, who polls show are concerned about rising federal spending and deficits.

Previous attempts to clamp down on earmarks have run into opposition in the Senate.