Report: Earmarks still present in Congress

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. congressmen still frequently employ the use of earmarks, despite maintaining a public stance against such political maneuvers, it was reported Sunday.

While most congressmen purposefully avoid using the term earmark due to the negative connotations associated with it, the political practice still takes place in other forms, The Washington Post reported.

Members of government watchdog groups say rather than simply attach funding efforts to other motions, lawmakers are using new tactics to help favored beneficiaries. Among those tactics are pressuring the executive branch into funding efforts through the use of special hearings and sending money to projects indirectly through state or regional funding.

Watchdog groups are especially upset about these new political tactics because they allow congressmen to aid their beneficiaries without the public knowing, the Post said.

"Going to agencies outside the congressional process avoids any measure of transparency or accountability," Sunlight Foundation member Ellen Miller said. "Earmarks remain and are just called by a different name."