U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau, announced today that the House Appropriations Committee will no longer approve earmarks directed to for-profit entities.

Obey, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, joined with incoming Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Norm Dicks, D-Wash., in announcing the plan. The lawmakers say the rule would have prevented 1,000 earmarks last year. In addition, the Appropriations Committee will now require an audit of at least 5 percent of non-profit earmarks to "ensure that earmarks go to their intended purposes and to prevent for-profits from masquerading as non-profits."

Obey added that he intends the changes to be long term.

Ashland County DA Sean Duffy -- one of two Republicans hoping to unseat Obey this year -- said the measure doesn't address the majority of earmark spending and cracked that "any earmark reform represents an abrupt 'about face'" for Obey.

"The earmark process has wasted hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money and corrupted members of Congress," Duffy said in a statement. "It's common sense that private companies should not receive earmarks, but why did it take a serious challenger for Chairman Obey to see the light?"