We wouldn't even be having the conversation if our reforms hadn't forced the full reporting of all earmarks, something vigorously opposed by the previous Congressional leadership.
It was also, he says, "the experience of suddenly being earmarked as something special, someone who was going to achieve something on behalf of so many other people [in his deeply Catholic community] and the pressure that came with that".
The Guardian produced a detailed analysis of what is likely to come up and what actions are likely to be called for: with the main areas being internet piracy, broadband, local media ownership rules, the provision of regional news and Channel 4. The BBC's digital switchover surplus is almost certainly earmarked for something else, probably paying for broadband connection for much of the country.
But many participants in a recent study coauthored by Chicago Booth assistant professor Abigail Sussman expressed willingness to put at least some of the money on high-interest plastic rather than withdraw the full amount from low-yield savings, especially if they were told the money in the account had been earmarked for something important.
Knowing that your rebate is specifically earmarked for something important will help you avoid the temptation to spend it on material things.
So I thought I should earmark my inheritance for something special, to honor Walt's memory.
Traditionally a bond trustee's job is mechanical: Mail out interest checks to bondholders and, if the money is earmarked to build something, dole out cash to the developer piecemeal as work progresses.
President Bush, of course, is threatening to veto any spending bills with earmarks included this fall, but he seems to define earmarks as something only Congress does.
In order to do this, we will need to earmark more resources for research and development–something, alas, that won't be forthcoming from this lackadaisical, security-careless Administration.
"If you were to assign [marijuana tax revenue] to something, it seems more logical to earmark it for health needs," said Maria Doulis, vice president of the nonpartisan Citizens Budget Commission, a good government group in New York.
