Growing Earmark Problems

Earmarks are a growing problem in congress, with their number and dollar amount increasing even after a threat from President Bush to veto spending bills if the use of earmarks does not decrease.

The Constitution gives Congress the power to decide where and to what programs taxes and other funds are allocated in the spending budget. Legislators take this opportunity to attach earmarks that support their constituents as well as home town programs. The men and women of Congress do not have to give their name or the reasons behind the amount given to certain programs. While some argue that this allows a more knowledgeable division of funds, others suggest that earmarks encourage the arbitrary allocation of funds. The problem arising from this practice is that it is growing at an alarming rate and their is a lack of oversight and knowledge of the programs that the funds are being sent to.

This practice also encourages competition inside the Congress, with legislators looking to make a good impression on their constituents by "bringing home the bacon". It is doubtful that any of the legislators will give up the potential power associated with the earmark as long as others within congress continue the practice. Arguments against earmarks suggest that this money is being focused mostly on the groups who actively support their representatives while others go lacking proper funding.

Efforts have been made to pressure those within Congress to change this pattern through mandates for public disclosure of financing requests as well as the threat of vetoes from the president. It is doubtful that this practice will dramatically decrease unless their is a more solid and collaborative effort within Congress to discourage the use of earmarks as well as expose the earmarks that are more blatantly for "pork barrel" politics.