The earmark disclosure debutantes are making their way to the floor today in the technical correction bill for SAFETEA-LU (H.R. 1195)(11MB). The bill is coming up on the suspension calendar this afternoon. To my knowledge, this is the first bill that has disclosed earmark sponsors since the rule change earlier this year (and probably ever). If you recall, SAFETEA-LU spawned the granddaddy of earmarks – the Bridge to Nowhere. It's legislative karma, the first bill disclosing earmarks is making changes to the bill that provided the poster child for earmark reform.

Of course the committee wasn't sure whether it actually merited earmark disclosure or not, considering they wrote:

“It is unclear if the definition of 'congressional earmark' under clause 9(d) of rule XXI applies to technical corrections to SAFTEA-LU projects because these technical corrections do not provide new budget authority for such projects. However, in the interest of full disclosure and transparency, the Committee has required all Members of Congress to comply with all requirements of clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI.”

But considering the public got the door slammed in its face by the Appropriations Committee last week, we applaud Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Oberstar (D-MN) and Ranking Member Mica (R-FL) for following the letter and the spirit of the new rule change and disclosing the earmarks.