By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — House Republicans are diving into what’s likely to be a tumultuous conversation about the future of earmarks.

As they began their three-day retreat at the Greenbrier resort, senior Republicans and their aides said support was rapidly growing for taking a step away from earmarking as usual.

Minority Leader John A. Boehner , R-Ohio, said he was determined to leave West Virginia with a caucuswide position.

“We are going to show voters that we are serious about earmarks,” Boehner said.

Among the proposals were a one-year moratorium on earmark requests, a narrower promise to limit requests for new earmarks, and creation of a joint select committee to write new rules for earmarking.

A dramatic gesture of that kind could help Republicans show voters a clear, bright distinction between them and majority Democrats — at a time when bipartisan agreement on an economic stimulus plan might make the differences between the parties less clear to constituents.

Of all the policy goals to pursue, earmarking is particularly difficult because it has become such an important tool to Democrats and Republicans alike.

Boehner’s spokesman, Kevin Smith, said Boehner “believes that if House Republicans are going to convince the American people we can fix it, we have to show we’re different, both from the Democrats of the present and the Republicans of the past.”

Pledging to Abstain

Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, and two of his allies, Mike Pence of Indiana and Jeff Flake of Arizona, are seeking a one-year moratorium on any Republican requests for earmarks.

It could be implemented by a change in party rules. Another option would be to ask the GOP rank and file to sign a written pledge.

So far, nearly 20 House Republicans have taken their own version of a pledge, promising each other not to take any more earmarks for new projects.

Some of them would make exceptions for earmarks that would fund ongoing projects.

Rep. Lee Terry , R-Neb., voluntarily vowed not to seek any earmarks for new projects in 2007 but says he’s not sure he would be willing to continue being in the minority of the minority on that.

“If I do request earmarks, I will be very limited in what I request. If there is a decision caucuswide not to take earmarks for a year, I have no problem with supporting that,” Terry said.

‘A PR Disaster’

Rep. Jack Kingston , R-Ga., who is an appropriator, said he wanted a temporary moratorium on requests for earmarks combined with action on his proposal (H Con Res 263) to create a 16-member joint select committee to study earmarks and make recommendations on how to limit them. The moratorium would be in effect until the panel makes its recommendations.

“Constitutionally, we have a right to earmarks. But they are a PR disaster,” Kingston said. “It’s like the annual pay raise vote. It is a modern-day political football. If we don’t deal with it we will handle it recklessly.”

Senior Republicans have expressed strong support for Kingston’s approach.

Howard P. “Buck” McKeon of California, a close ally of Boehner who is the ranking Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee, says his friend is under heavy pressure to move toward a one-year moratorium.

McKeon has argued for retaining earmarks in the past. But in the current atmosphere, he is willing to go along with a one-year moratorium. “We’ve got to do something about earmarks. I would be willing to support a one-year moratorium if that’s what everybody decides to do,” McKeon said.

Senior GOP aides said Boehner and his leadership team face a tough challenge in trying to mollify appropriators and senior members of some authorizing committees, who do not want to limit earmarks in legislation, and also trying to satisfy the vigorous and vocal anti-earmark bloc.

Appropriators have suggested privately that Boehner consider requiring members of their panel to promise to voluntarily limit earmark requests. But they are balking at a sweeping ban on earmarks.

“If we get rid of earmarks, why have an Appropriations Committee?” asked one senior House appropriator.

But rank-and-file members are pressing for limits. “We need to have an honest discussion about appropriators,” said Terry. “If you get on there, you get as much as you can. But to me, that can be corrupt.”

Caucus in Transition

Aides said another key issue was whether to seek immediate changes or a prospective limitation that would take effect if Republicans take control of Congress. Yet another option would have Republicans forgoing earmarks that benefit themselves or specific companies.

A bold initiative might energize a caucus that is increasingly in transition. On Thursday, another House Republican, James T. Walsh of New York, announced his intention not to seek re-election. That will leave the GOP with 20 vacant House seats to defend in the fall.