Washington, D.C. – A two-year ban on federal earmarks approved by Senate Republicans is getting a mixed review from Alabama's two GOP senators.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions was a co-sponsor of the measure approved Tuesday. He favors cutting back government spending.
But U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby says the ban won't save a dime of federal taxpayer money and puts more spending authority in the hands of the Obama administration. Shelby, a powerful member of the Senate appropriations committee, has steered hundreds of millions of dollars to Alabama projects through earmarks.
He says the ban will hurt major construction and research initiatives in Alabama.
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