Yesterday, OMB Director Robert Portman issued a memo sternly warning agencies not to obligate FY 2007 funds "on the basis of earmarks contained in Congressional reports or documents, or other written or oral communications regarding earmarks," suggesting zero tolerance this year for traditional Congressional approaches to funding for favored projects. For years, administration agencies have relied on committee reports -- where the vast majority of earmarks are spelled out -- for guidance on Congress' will in executing spending laws. Democrats removed about 9,300 earmarks that had been slated for approval under the regular FY07 spending bills, many simply listed in reports accompanying the bills. Indeed, the most public expression of Congressional will regarding spending specific details for FY 2007 will now be the most anathema for agencies to act on. It will be interesting to see how seriously the agencies heed Director Portman's warning and how many of the these 9,300 earmarks end up getting funded.