President Suggests Bringing Back Earmark System in Freewheeling Conversation with Congressional Leaders

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The president suggested bringing back a form of congressional earmarks today during a meeting with congressional leaders today.  “Maybe all of you should think about going back to a system of earmarks.  This system lends itself to not getting along,” the president said.

The president suggested putting in place better controls because things, he said, got a little bit out of hand.  But the president said if Congress wanted to study the issue, he would be open to looking at it.

The suggestion came in an impromptu conversation between the president and congressional leaders that played out spontaneously before the media.  The president was meeting with congressional leaders of both parties at the White House today to discuss possible solutions to the DACA program, the immigration program that defer deportation to illegal immigrants who were brought to this country at a very young age.

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