Proposals to ban earmarks continue to pick up steam

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., wrote Monday to House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in support of banning congressional earmarks for fiscal 2011.

"Unauthorized congressional earmarks continue to be a serious problem," Feingold wrote. "Just last year, the Omnibus Appropriations bill for fiscal 2009 passed in March contained more than eight thousand earmarks costing $7 billion."

His letter comes after the idea was brought up at a meeting of House Democratic leaders last week, a Democratic aide said, who added that Pelosi supports it.

Supporters of earmarks contend the targeted funds only make up a small part -- about 2 percent in fiscal 2009 -- of overall spending and that lawmakers have a constitutional right to direct funding.

Meanwhile, the Senate could vote on an anti-earmark proposal as soon as Tuesday, according to the office of Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who has introduced an amendment to a $150 billion jobs and tax measure being considered by the Senate. The DeMint amendment creates a point of order against bills considered in fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011 that include earmarks, which would require 60 votes to waive.