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In the coming weeks, the U.S. House of Representatives will begin to debate the yearly appropriations bills to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2008. As part of that process, Members of Congress often submit appropriations requests, or earmarks, to set aside funds for particular projects. These earmarks do not add funds to the federal budget; instead they set aside funds for particular projects among the dollars allocated to federal agencies. This process makes sense. Instead of someone sitting on the 4th floor in an office building in DC deciding where federal funds go, Members of Congress set aside a portion of funds for projects especially important to their districts. The result is – or can be – a more responsive, efficient federal government.