Tom Walker/Eyewitness News
Washington, D.C. - Pork barrel spending is still a way of life in Congress, despite a reform effort - led by an Indiana senator - to limit the money spent on pet projects.
Two years ago, Democrats rode to power promising to shut down what disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff once called "the favor factory." He went to jail, but the factory is still at full speed, churning out billions of dollars in so-called earmarks for lawmakers' pet projects.
Earmarks totaling $15 billion appear in this year's budget, some of that will end up in the pockets of lobbyists who helped create them. However, changes have made it easier to see who's requesting them and where they're going.
Democrat Baron Hill (D-Indiana) has begun putting a form on his web site that anyone can use to request a slice of federal appropriations. He and others say they try to limit them to legitimate needs, like the ones created by this week's extreme weather.
"I have an earmark that I'm asking for a study for the problems that they're having with flooding in Floyd County," Rep. Hill said. "Is that a bad thing? I don't think so, I think it's a good thing."
Among representatives from Indiana, Democrat Peter Visclosky requested more than anyone - more than $130 million. Dan Burton and Mike Pence were tied for the least at roughly $6.9 million.
Senator Dick Lugar, who led a Republican study of earmarks, says he is taking a more critical look at them.
"Our staff has been going back to a number of people requesting consideration or saying you're going to have to offer a great deal more justification or, in some cases, we indicate we're just not in a position to make that suggestion," Sen. Lugar said.
His total comes to $179 million worth of projects. Democratic Senator Evan Bayh's projects add up to more than $430 million.
Efforts to impose a temporary ban on earmarks by members of Congress have failed.