Capitol Hill insiders say at least 75 percent of lawmakers privately still think earmarking is a correct and proper use of congressional authority. Yet last week, one of the Senate's champion earmarkers, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii, hammered home the nail that officially ended the practice — at least for the time being.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this week began running radio advertisements to criticize 12 Republican House members for their "lock-step" support of President Bush's war policy.
