EARMARKING REVISITED.

EARMARKING REVISITED. Another article on earmarking, which includes a Congressional reaction to the Office of Management and Budget directive that “While the administration welcomes input to help make informed decisions, no oral or written communication concerning earmarks shall supersede statutory criteria, competitive awards, or merit-based decision-making.” One Congressman thinks that the head of the OMB should tell agency chiefs that they ignore guidance in committee reports “at their own risk.” An opponent of earmarking makes the same point I made here that Congressmen are generally happy to claim credit for earmarks.