Many of the earmark request forms are actually filled out by lobbyists and then just turned in by the member's staff to the appropriations committee.

If we can't have the courage to tell our constituents, hey, we've got to cut back, then if we can point to something and say, I would like to vote for more benefits for you, but this balanced budget amendment or statutory spending cap or whatever the device is, is preventing me from doing it.

For one, I think as a missionary you gotta be stubborn. And you gotta try to be persuasive.

Jeff Flake Quotes