April 7, 2006

In Lobbying Bill, Senate Requires More Disclosure, but Not Limits, on Earmarks

By JEFFREY BRAINARD

The U.S. Senate approved lobbying-reform legislation last week that would require more public disclosure of earmarked federal spending, including grants to colleges.

But the bill, S 2349, would not cut back on the number of such directed appropriations that senators could request or obtain.

Earmarks are noncompetitively awarded appropriations that members of Congress obtain for favored constituents. Critics call them "pork-barrel spending" and complain that many of the projects