Conservatives Warn GOP Not to Revive Earmarks in Wake of Trump's Win

[The Daily Signal] Nov. 16, 2016 Good morning from Capitol Hill, where GOP lawmakers seem to think that after an election focused on Washington's corruption, it makes sense to bring back earmarks. Rob Bluey reports and Mike Needham opines on why earmarks shouldn't be resurrected. Among the sobering statistics from the Heritage Foundation's Index of U.S. Military Strength, released today, are that our military is now smaller than it was before 9/11. Plus: Fred Lucas on Democrats in disarray, Kelsey Harkness on a religious liberty case's day in court, and Jarrett Stepman on the latest insanity on a college campus. News [Conservatives Warn GOP Not to Revive Earmarks in Wake of Trump's Win] The vote will be conducted by secret ballot during a closed-door meeting of House Republicans later today, leaving conservatives fearful that earmarks and pork-barrel spending could return. [Read More] News [Sanctuary Cities Defy Trump's Pledge to Defund Them. How He Can Fight Back.] "President-elect Trump has made clear that sanctuary cities may see some … money dry up if they are continuing to defy federal law," says Kris Kobach, Trump's immigration adviser. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, pictured above, is among those resisting changing the status quo on immigration. [Read More] Commentary [Return of Earmarks Would Boost the Ruling Class] Banning congressional earmarks ended years of backroom promises, handshake money exchanges, and hundreds of millions of wasted taxpayer dollars. [Read More] Commentary [New Numbers Show Continued Decline of US Military] The Navy fleet has shrunk by 13 percent since 9/11 and is our smallest fleet since 1916. [Read More] News [Democrats Looking for Answers After Devastating Election] The progressive wing of the Democratic Party, which backed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential primary challenge to eventual nominee Hillary Clinton, wants to double down on its agenda. [Read More] News [Washington Florist Case Goes Before the State Supreme Court] "A gay public relations manager shouldn't be forced to promote the Westboro Baptist Church," argues the florist's lawyer. "And a Christian floral designer shouldn't be forced to create custom wedding designs for a wedding that is not between one man and one woman." [Read More] News [Thomas Jefferson Now Too Politically Incorrect at University He Founded] "The inclusion of Jefferson quotations in these emails undermines the message of unity, equality, and civility that you are attempting to convey," a group of students and professors wrote to the president of the University of Virginia. [Read More] [The Daily Signal] The Daily Signal is brought to you by more than half a million members of The Heritage Foundation. [Find us on Facebook] Find us on Facebook [Follow us on Twitter] Follow us on Twitter The Daily Signal 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 [(800) 546-2843] [Donate to The Daily Signal] Add [morningbell@heritage.org] to your address book to ensure that you receive emails from us. You are subscribed to this newsletter as {EMAIL}. If you want to receive other Heritage Foundation newsletters, or opt out of this newsletter, [please click here to update your subscription.] -