Democrats to push earmark overhaul

WASHINGTON, March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday that Democratic leaders will propose an overhaul to the way congressional earmarks are handled in spending bills.

Schumer, vice chairman of the Senate Democratic conference, said reforms could include a cap on earmarks equal to 1 percent of discretionary spending bills.

"We're going to make more reforms," said Schumer said in an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press."

He said Democrats have already changed the general appropriations process in Congress.

"Here are three more things we're going to do: Next year every request is going to go online so it's not just the ones that are about to be put in the bill. Second, we're going to make (information on earmarks) available much earlier. And third, we've made a commitment that there will be no more than one percent as earmarks."

NBC noted that 40 percent of the earmarks in a pending omnibus federal spending bill, or $7 billion worth, are from Republicans.

Asked if President Barack Obama should veto the bill, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said yes.

"We do need earmark reform. I wish he would veto the bill," Graham said. "We'd get back together and come up with the earmark reform process."