U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said Thursday that the Senate Appropriations Committee would extend a ban on earmarks for another year. But the Hawaii Democrat offered a fresh warning to his colleagues, who are thinking of a permanent ban, about relying on the executive branch for obtaining money for local projects and interests.

From The Hill:

Over the past year, many of my colleagues have learned the hard way that being forced to request essential funding for their state puts them at a distinct disadvantage, and in many cases leaves them open to unseemly bargaining with the executive branch.

In the end, the Congress will have to choose between an open and transparent method for allocating targeted funding or one that is done with phone calls, conversations, winks, and nods.