Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today informed his colleagues that he is moving forward with a set of legislative and policy reforms for how Members of Congress earmark federal funds.

The Minority Leader announced a formal Conference meeting for next week to discuss the issue, Republican sources close to the discussions said.

McConnell, who has often taken heat from conservatives over the issue of earmarking, has begun to slowly embrace the fiscal issue. He impaneled a group of GOP Senators earlier this year to produce the set of reforms and has since begun working with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on legislation to implement them.

McConnell announced next week’s meeting at the weekly Republican Steering Committee luncheon. Leading fiscal conservative Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) helms the committee.