The White House may link a possible executive order eliminating thousands of earmarks with a call for reprogramming the funding, perhaps through a direct rebate to taxpayers or by putting the savings into children’s health care or bridge repair programs, according to House and Senate Republicans close to the issue. Although no final decision has been made on whether President Bush will in fact sign an executive order, Republicans said it is increasingly likely and that discussions of linking it to a taxpayer rebate or funding reprogramming indicate Bush may be looking to make fiscal responsibility a centerpiece of his domestic legacy.