Senate Minority Leader Mitch Mcconnell, R-Ky., announced on Monday he would support a ban on earmarks - a move he opposed just a week ago.

"Old habits aren't easy to break, but sometimes they must be," said McConnell, who has been the U.S. Senate's staunchest fan of pork barrel politics.

According to The Washington Post, the Kentucky senator has requested $1 billion worth of earmarks over the course of his career.
   
His reversal is a reflection of the pressure that incumbents are under to make significant changes in the way the government  is currently being operated.

McConnell said Americans view earmarks as a symbol of out of control government spending.  He added that he wants to be clear that Republicans are determined to put an end to the practice.

House Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner of Ohio praised his colleague's change of heart.

"An earmark moratorium shows that elected officials are serious about restoring trust between the American people and those who are elected to represent them," Boehner stated.

"This is a strong first step -- though only a first step -- towards making the tough choices required to get our country back on track," he said.