President Obama on Wednesday signed a $410 billion budget bill leftover from last year thus preventing the federal government from running out of money. But the bill also contained billions of dollars in earmarks - special requests for money for specific projects by members of Congress. President Obama defended his decision to sign the bill despite his criticism of the earmark process in the past, saying that next year's budget will be different. Critics of earmarks, like Arizona Senator John McCain, refer to earmark spending as "pork-barrel" spending. He called on the president to veto the bill. The NewsHour's Kwame Holman reports on details of the debate and afterward, Congressional expert Norm Ornstein explains what an earmark is, what reforms President Obama would like to be made to the earmark process and what earmark critics say about the practice. Quotes "Earmarks must have a legitimate and worthy public purpose. Earmarks that members do seek must be aired on those members' Web sites in advance so the public and the press can examine them and judge their merits for themselves." - President Obama "The president could have resolved this issue in one statement: No more unauthorized pork-barrel projects and pledged to use his veto pen to stop them. This is an opportunity missed." - Senator John McCain "An earmark is when Congress designates funds specifically for a project, a grant, or a contract. So you're not just saying, 'We're going to have money for highways, but for a particular interchange, a particular building, or a particular kind of project." - Norman Ornstein Warm Up Questions 1. What does Congress do? What is the power of the purse? 2. Who decides whether a damaged bridge is repaired or not? Who pays for it? 3. What is an earmark? Discussion Questions 1. Do you think the earmark process makes sense or is fair? Why or why not? 2. Is President Obama wrong to say he is against the earmark process while still signing the bill? What would you have done? 3. Do you think the reforms President Obama has proposed are a good idea? Are they enough to change how the process works? 4. Why are most members of Congress in favor of earmarks? Do you think voters like earmarks? Additional Resources Read the transcript