The New York Times’  Ron Nixon reports that the Democratic-controlled Congress pledge to cut earmarks, the money tacked on to legislation by individual lawmakers for pet projects, is not being heeded. Earmarks in this year’s labor and health spending bill making going through Congress currently total $618 million. About $277 million was spent on earmarks in last year’s bill.

Earmarks are a popular target for government reformers, but how do they affect the behavior of the federal agencies that must carry out the earmark projects? For instance, James E. Clyburn, the no. 3 Democrat in the House, has set aside millions for an Army Corps of Engineers construction project on two lakes in his home state of South Carolina. How much does such work strain Army Corps of Engineers resources and divert the agency from projects the they’ve judged most important?

In terms of government waste, there are budget items far, far worse than earmarks (like billions on Pentagon weapons systems that don’t work and are never used). But at a time when much of the federal government is unable to perform important, primary missions the return of earmarks would seem to be a big headache.-MB

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