Earmarks

Basically I'm agin 'em. The word is used for two somewhat different political maneuvers. Type A earmarks are special goodies written into (or slipped into) appropriations bills at the behest of your friendly local pol. The pols think bringing home the bacon makes their constituents love them and vote for their reelection. Most pols partake of type A earmarks with the exception of crusty conservatives like John McCain.
Type B earmarks dedicate the revenue from a tax to a specific purpose. For instance gasoline tax revenue is earmarked for highway construction. The supporters of NH gambling were going to earmark the revenue from the gambling tax to the department of health & human services. The revenue from RGGI energy taxes was earmarked for energy conservation projects. The green community was outraged when the legislature diverted RGGI money to the general fund.
I believe that the legislature ought to have the freedom to spend the state's limited revenues on the most urgent requirements. The earmarked revenue gets spent on the earmarked program regardless of need.
Of course, very occasionally, a good Type A earmark comes along. Good ole Judd Gregg slipped thru an earmark that brought some federal dollars to rebuild the Litteton Opera House. The restored Opera House is a beautiful building standing upon a commanding site and Littleton just wouldn't be the same without it. So let us enjoy our good earmark while making a New Year's resolution to sin no more.