In a recently published article in Government Executive Magazine Robert Brodsky uncovers that "the 20 biggest federal contractors received at least 80 earmarks worth more than $212 million." (See the chart below to see who garnered the most)

These big companies know how to maneuver through the system, and how the current system operates, that means they have lobbyists willing to make campaign contributions to members who are willing to sponsor earmarks.  They also know this is an easy way of circumventing the competitive bidding process, thereby undercutting smaller firms.

The House has established rules for transparency, requiring members to certify who requested the earmark as well as whom the beneficiary would be.  The Senate established a similar rule before the Democratic leadership watered down the rule so that the requesting Senator only has to declare that the earmark will not end up in personal financial gain. 

The 80 earmarks scrutinized by this report are only from members of the House;  meaning that roughly $5.3 billion were sponsored or cosponsored by one or more members of the Senate, without disclosure of the beneficiary.

I don’t know about you, but $5.3 billion is not a small sum of money, and if I am paying for it, I want to know where it is going and for what.

It is clear from this report that the earmarking process is far from reformed.