Earmarks generally get a bad rap and are almost universally derided as “bad.” However, earmarks served an important function in getting legislation passed while address state and district specific needs. It also allows for more bipartisan legislation. For example, a Republican congressman and and senator may vote for a democrat appropriations bill if they can get funding for a specific rural hospital in their state rather than playing party line politics. They’ll be better able to defend bipartisan votes against partisan attacks. It’s actually a very good way of getting democrats and republicans to sit down at the same table and work on problems. From a historical standpoint, earmarks have been around since like 1800 or something like that. It’s basically the way we were able to get things done since we moved into a party based political system. They were effectively banned in 2012 and the result has been an extreme hyper partisan atmosphere in congress because without earmarks the minority cannot get their voices heard in legislation. This will help reduce partisanship in congress. Haters are going to act like it’s the end of the world but that’s because they want to keep the politicians fighting rather than working together. Next, we have to end the filibuster and we will actually have a truly functioning government the way it was intended. Less partisanship and more policy. Less gridlock and more growth.