Obama Grabs Congress by the Earmark

President Obama promised to veto any bill sent to his desk that includes an earmark.

Vowed to veto any bills sent to him that include "earmarks," pet spending provisions pushed by individual lawmakers. "Both parties in Congress should know this: If a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it."

President Obama didn't feel this way about earmarks in 2009.

The president said some earmarks are legitimate. "Done right," he said, "earmarks give legislators the opportunity to direct federal money to worthy projects that benefit people in their district, and that's why I have opposed their outright elimination."

What brought about this dramatic change of heart? Republican House Speaker John Boehner has publicly promised no bills with earmarks will get out of the House anyway. Now, President Obama can claim credit for Boehner's work. How sleazy can you get?