Jeffrey Lazarus, Professor of Political Science, wrote to the Washington Post’s Monkey Cage on the Democrats revival of the earmarking process.
“Now that Democrats control the House and Senate, they plan to revive earmarking — a process by which legislators can direct federal spending to their home districts. Democratic lawmakers are hoping earmarks can help solve two issues they’ll have in the new Congress: keeping their narrow majorities together on big votes, and boosting vulnerable members’ reelection chances when they face voters in 2022. Earmarks have some heavy baggage. But as Democrats see it, the good outweighs the bad. Here’s what you need to know.”