It’s been a busy week for House appropriators, with their full committee marking up several bills and considering one on the floor. There is an old saw about there being three parties in Congress: Republicans, Democrats and Appropriators. Judging by the relative good humor on display Wednesday, there might be some truth to that.
Chairman Tom Cole speaks with ranking member Rosa DeLauro before the start of the House Appropriations Committee markup of several appropriations bills in the Rayburn House Office Building on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)Reps. Steve Womack and Chuck Fleischmann talk before markups begin. Womack has requested $178.8 million in earmarks for the fiscal 2025 appropriations process, making him the No. 2 earmarker in the House. Fleischmann was the top House earmarker last fiscal year. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Congressional staffers arrive for the start of Wednesday’s markups. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)