Earmarks are back, and they're as lousy as ever

One of the worst decisions by the current Democratic congressional majority, and one of the main reasons it ought to be taken away, is the decision to restore earmarks. Republicans had wisely banned these specific-interest spending provisions after winning back the House majority in 2010. They need to do it again.

Unfortunately, members of both parties are already taking full advantage of this decision. Democrats and Republicans alike are securing and boasting about the millions in wasteful pork-barrel spending that they brought home to their own states and House districts in the spending bill they just sent up for President Joe Biden’s signature.