Lend Me Your Ear(Mark)

CQ on the trouble with earmark reform:

A second GOP aide suggested it may have more to do with some discomfort in the conference over changes being proposed.

“Earmark reform has not been popular with either party,” the aide said.

In other news, reports indicate middle school students  overwhelmingly oppose doing homework.

Of course politicians have been reluctant to take serious steps towards doing away with the political favor racket.  But politicians respond to incentives just like everyone else: the trick is to make earmarks enough of a liability that playing the game the old way just isn’t an option anymore.