Not to Hold an Off-the-Record Vote on, Shhh... Earmarks And revealed, appropriately enough, in the Sunday edition of Chicago Sun Times by Robert Novak, aka, the Prince of Darkness. Read all about it in House GOP Giving up on Earmark Crackdown: A recent secret survey of the House Republican minority by the party's whip organization showed 2-1 opposition to imposing a moratorium on earmarks. House Republican John Boehner, who personally sponsors no earmarks, has indicated the party's position should be based on what GOP House members want. That led to the whip check. Reformers had contemplated calling for a vote on earmarks by a closed-door session of the House Republican Conference, assuming it would be difficult for many members to vote no. But the lopsided outcome of the whip check dissuaded reformers from requesting a vote. Don't tell anyone I told you.