Interesting article on the position of a conservative Republican House Member - Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) - supporting the earmarking process in Congress. Simpson even goes so far as to say outlawing earmarks may be unconstitutional. Simpson, a member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee (a prime suspect for earmarks and pork spending each year), believes earmarks have positive results, such as leaving money in the control of local officials rather than Washington bureaucrats, focusing spending on short-term, targeted projects instead of never-ended Washington programs, and keeping Representatives intimately involved with the spending of taxpayer dollars. Simpson favors increased transparency of earmark requests and approval, and even posts his own requests on his website.