In the U.S. Senate, it's called 'congressionally directed spending'. In the House, the term is 'community project funding'. Either way, they are what most Americans know as earmarks -- government spending on a particular project or program at the direction of a member of Congress. There are numerous restrictions on the use of earmarks and transparency measures that didn't exist back when earmarks were also referred to as pork, and some members abused their ability to influence spending decisions.

Four of Oklahoma's seven members -- Rep. Tom Cole, Rep. Stephanie Bice, Rep. Frank Lucas, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin -- embrace earmarks, noting that they do not, in and of themselves, increase spending; they are carved out of a set amount of money, which is going to be spent no matter what. They

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