New proposed spending from House and Senate Committees on Defense Spending show a significant increase in earmarks for the fiscal 2009 budget. $9.9 billion in spending earmarked by the House shows an increase from last year's $7.7 billion. Proposed spending by the Senate shows about $5.4 billion earmarked versus $5.6 billion last year, though the number of earmarks is greater than the previous year. The earmarks are specifically credited to congressional members of the defense appropriations committees that passed these bills. The report is issued by Taxpayers for Common Sense; http://www.taxpayer.net The report shows how earmarks often relate to campaign funding. The following examples of direct relationships between earmarks and campaign funding flies in the face of those who defend earmark spending or make claims that it is akin to tax credits. It is more often a form of political payback for raising funds for an elected official. For instance take a look at these relationships that reflect new earmarks and histories of campaign contributions from the representatives of various businesses..... Earmarks represent a twisted corrupt form of governing whereby elected officials are able to relate campaign finance with direct gifts to the companies that support their campaigns. I'd pull the money out of campaigns and lobbying and I'd lop the head off of earmarks.