House GOP leaders say earmarks must be removed from the massive "omnibus" spending bill the Democratic majority will likely try to pass after the mid-term elections.

Congressman John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other members of the House GOP leadership joined Representative Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) and dozens of other House Republicans in sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) urging that no earmarks be included in the next proposed budget.

Senator Tom Coburn (R- Oklahoma) said the federal government needs to tighten its own belt before raising taxes. "The fact is we've got $350 billion a year in waste, fraud, or duplication in the federal government, and everybody's thinking we have to raise taxes," says the senator. "The first thing we need to do is cut that waste"...