The House Republican majority in the House of Representatives has renewed the landmark ban on earmarks for the 113th Congress.

Speaker John Boehner “has been a longtime proponent of the earmark ban,” reports The Hill, “having never requested any so-called ‘pork barrel’ spending during his tenure in the House.”

When House Republicans first adopted the earmark ban proposed by Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) two years ago, Speaker Boehner said earmarks had “become a symbol of a Congress that has broken faith with the people.” Boehner described banning earmarks – which had grown in number under recent majorities run by both parties – as a “critical step to restore public trust.”

The earmark ban has been one of several steps taken under Speaker Boehner to change the way Congress works, and to make the legislative process more open and accountable. For example:

• The House now posts legislation online at least three days before a vote;
• Legislative data is being posted online in XML at docs.House.gov, in real-time by the House Clerk, and work is underway on providing bulk access;
• The House floor and committee hearings are streamed live online (and are accessible on desktops and mobile devices);
• And much more.

“This earmark ban shows the American people we are listening,” said Speaker Boehner, “and we are dead serious about ending business as usual in Washington.”