CBS Austin

After a ten-year ban, a bipartisan group of Democrats and Republicans in Congress renamed earmarks as "Congressionally directed spending requests." Today, earmarks are back. 

Watchdogs call earmarks pork, pet projects, and the currency of corruption in Congress.

Joining us to discuss congressional earmarks and his group's new oversight report, Earmarks — The Return of the Swamp Creatures — is Adam Andrzejewski, CEO of OpenTheBooks.com. 

REPORT | INTERACTIVE MAP

QUESTIONS

1. First of all, what's the definition of an earmark? And how many of these projects passed Congress for FY2023?

2. How many earmarks did Texas get? Were they necessary?

3. The biggest earmarker in Texas and, in fact, the entire U.S. House of Representatives last year was Rep. Randy Weber (R-14).

How much did Weber earmark last year and what has he requested in earmarks this year?

4. Across the entire Texas congressional delegation and in our viewing area, what new earmarks are requested for 2024? 

5. Bringing back earmarks after a ten-year ban was bipartisan. What's the inside story here?

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held a secret caucus vote in December 2022. 158 Republicans voted to join Pelosi Democrats to endorse earmarks. Weeks later 7,509 earmarks costing $16 billion were inserted into the $1.7 trillion omnibus year-end spending bill. 

We are calling for an on the record, up or down U.S. House vote on an earmark resolution.