GOP Considering Earmark Flip Flop

House Republicans are quietly plotting a return to congressional earmarks that they railed against just a few years ago.

Faced with Tea Party opposition preventing passage of essential legislation, Speaker John Boehner and other top Republicans have reportedly talked about reintroducing earmarks, allowing targeted spending to be attached to important bills.

Boehner is said to fear blowback from Tea Party members if the repeal of the earmark ban comes up during an election year, but thinks it is necessary to break the conservative-imposed gridlock in Washington.