Sen. Tom Coburn??¢â???¬â???¢s (R.-Okla.) amendment to block pork from being stuffed into the Agriculture Appropriations bill passed the Senate 55 to 39. Coburn??¢â???¬â???¢s amendment ends former procedures that automatically approved earmarks for special projects in the House version of an appropriations bill. Now, any limitation, directive or earmark must be included in the bill??¢â???¬â???¢s conference report. This will subject all projects to a Senate vote and promote transparency in government spending.
