Congress must stop funding bridges to nowhere and rainforests in Iowa. These are classic examples of “pork” and pet projects of a senator or congressman. I believe earmark reform must be a priority to end this abuse of public dollars and exploitation of the earmark process. Earmarks (specified projects) are a normal course of business for federal agencies. For example, the new runway for Offutt Air Force Base was an earmark that was appropriate. The project was specified by the Air Force in its five-year plan, authorized by Congress, and then earmarked in the military appropriations bill. That is the proper process for an earmark and should be the basis of earmark reform in Congress.