WAMs

Also known as pork and earmarks.
==Background ==
===Pork===
Congress makes and spends legislative pork rather than make fiscally responsible spending decisions. The craving for pork has led to record growth in pork barrel spending known as earmarking.
===Perfect storm for spending reform ===
* Lobbyist Jack Abramoff showered lawmakers with cash for favors. 
* Former-Representative Duke Cunningham (now a felon) sold earmarks to the highest briber.
===Earmarking===
Pork and WAMs are often called earmarkings.
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* Bill Ogden on WAMs
* WAMs-plank
* WAMs-Democracy_Rising-plank
==Insights==
===Congress’ addiction to pulling pork to their districts is out of control. ===
In 2005, taxpayers spent $32.7 billion on 15,584 earmarks in every congressional district in the nation. In 1996 there were just 2,000 earmarks.
==Links==
* News:_State_court_rejects_lawsuit_over_perks_for_PA_legislators_in_2006