House Republicans recently chose Rep. Tom Cole from Oklahoma to lead the House Appropriations Committee. Now that he's got the gavel, Chairman Cole is considering a major change to congressional earmark guidelines… Stay tuned! 

House Republicans are weighing a change to their congressional earmark guidelines that would put another major dent in House lawmakers’ ability to secure funding for social services programs in their districts, sources familiar with the discussions said. New House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., is considering blocking nonprofits from receiving earmarks under the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiative grant program.