Earmarks
An earmark is money that a Member of Congress requests for a specific project that bypasses the regular appropriations process.
More about earmarks and the earmarks process
Watch a comprehensive PBS special on earmarks and find information on earmarks.
This pdf gives examples of earmarks, describes the earmarks process, and how a lobbyist can help in that process. A law firm with a lobbying practice published the document, which explains an ethical lobbyist's role in securing an earmark.
This list of frequently asked questions about earmarks put together by USA Today is critical of some earmarks that get through.
Where's my money going? databases and charts of earmarks
- Taxpayers for Common Sense's downloadable database of fiscal year 2008 earmarks
- The Office of Managementand Budget's database of fiscal year 2005 earmarks and information on earmarks
- The Sunlight Foundation has a map of where Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development earmarks go
- Earmarkwatch.org has a database of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Defense earmarks. It's a project of the Sunlight Foundation and Taxpayers for Common Sense.
- Citizens Against Government Waste's Pig Book is a compilation of appropriations they consider pork; many, but not all, are earmarks. You may download annual Pork Books going back to 1991 without charge.
- The Washington Post charts the increase in pork barrel spending from 1994 to 2006. Note: it's not clear whether the Washington Post just includes earmarks among the pork, which is a general term for wasteful spending that benefits a single district.
Advocates of earmark reform
- Taxpayers for Common Sense
- No Earmarks Pledge, a pledge to reform earmarks and obey a one year moratorium on earmarks
- Website of House Republicans who support earmark reform.
- Porkbusters
- Citizens Against Goverment Waste
Definitions
- Office of Management and Budget OMB guidance to agencies on definition of earmarks
- Slate.com What's an earmark?
