Congressional negotiators are moving quickly to try to finalize work on a sprawling package to fund the government through the remainder of the fiscal year, though sticking points remain.
Cruz touted the vote as a victory because no GOP senator tried to formally lift the ban.
“I think it was clear by the time we went into the room that the votes weren’t there,” Cruz said, guessing that two-thirds of the Senate conference wanted to keep the ban on earmarks.
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But he also acknowledged that a Republican senator could request an earmark despite the ban in the caucus rules.
“Can a member choose to act differently? Sure. Any individual member at the end of the day has to make the choice as to what are the obligations you owe to your constituents,” he said.