Sean
An earmark is a clause inserted into a spending appropriations bill that directs funds to a specific recipient while circumventing the merit-based or competitive funds allocation process. Earmarks are a feature in American public finance. Sometimes it will be reported that politicians use earmarks to fund pet projects.
Honestly, I know earmarks are a real thing but it seems like they do it for fake news.
Side notes:
- Appropriations – the spending of taxpayer dollars
- Public finance – the management of the country’s revenue and spending by the government
