What exactly are earmarks?
It’s normally a “pay to play” scheme. You make a campaign contribution, and the congress critter makes sure your project gets funded. In other words, a specific project is “earmarked” for funding in the budget.
Works for small projects in the 10s of thousands of dollars up to the big, multi-billion expenditures.
It leads to all sorts of federal spending on things that otherwise would never get funded. It is highly corrupt.
“What exactly are earmarks?”
They are a directive from politicians on exactly how, where and with whom to spend money. They enabled Pork Barrel politics.
From the article:
Prior to their ban in 2010, lawmakers used earmarks to direct government agencies how to spend money. The practice led to some noteworthy abuses such as the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere” in Alaska. Earmarks even played a role in former GOP Rep. Duke Cunningham’s bribery case. Cunningham, who spent time in prison, used earmarks in exchange for lobbyists’ gifts.
.
Tagging-on a special interest expenditure in an otherwise non-germaine bill. E.g. spending $150,000 to fund a Cowboy Poetry event in Elko, Nevada; $2 million for a freeway off ramp construction that favors a constituent’s/donor’s business.
Since you appear to be a Canadian, I am wondering how you feel about your government’s lack of adequate funding support for NATO? Only four of the 27 members pay less than does Canada. And FYI, of the more than $900 billion NATO annual budget, America pays more than $650 billion! I don’t know how you can live with being such a freeloader country! Only Spain, Slovenia, Belgium and Luxembourg are worse than Canada. Must be nice to be able to fund your Socialist government with our money!