Understanding Earmarks: Lobbying for Community Project Funds in the 117th Congress

Public Policy & Regulation Group Leader Rich Gold spoke with Quorum about what earmarks are, how they've changed and how organizations can increase chances of earning earmarked federal funding. The practice was removed in 2010 after a series of ethical scandals, but legislators are increasingly supporting its reintroduction with new rules to make it more transparent and ethical. Mr. Gold said although he believes the movement back toward earmarks would have happened regardless of COVID-19, the pandemic has shown how and where earmarks could be useful. He also shared tips for improving the chances of receiving federal funding, adding that earmarks can help increase access to the federal government at the local or state level.

"In some sense, it is a direct channel of democracy from the local level to Washington and hopefully breaks down some of the preconceptions of the federal government not being responsive," Gold said. "I really counsel people — if you've got a project that will really make a difference in your local community, this is a process that you need to look at and talk to your member of Congress about."

Mr. Gold's remarks were taken from a recorded podcast with Quorum.

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