Washington used to be a place where lawmakers openly traded votes for both concrete and symbolic concessions from the executive branch, whether it was a project in a member’s district or simply the president’s presence at a specific event.
But the press, watchdog groups and many politicians began demonizing this practice and now, appropriations bills are free of the so-called “earmarks” that eased the passage of everything from the North American Free Trade Agreement under President Bill Clinton to prescription drug coverage for seniors under President George W. Bush.