Stop Earmarks
Members of Congress need to cease the current practice of earmarks because it's a distraction from what they should be doing - focusing on overseeing the federal bureaucracy.
Also, while earmarks are a small portion of the federal budget, they're a potent symbol to taxpayers - who say, "If you can't wean yourselves off of earmarks, how can you possibly be fiscally responsible enough to cut taxes?"
Republicans in Congress need to agree to an earmark moratorium if they're ever going to regain the trust of the American taxpayer, and thus regain the majority in Congress.
Agreed, however...
There is still a lot of discussion to be had regarding earmarks and whether or not we want the Administration to control the purse strings entirely, or whether we think Congress adds a good check.
Generally, I think the answer will come from a smarter embrace of technology to help add more sunlight to the spending process.
Thoughts?