Want a functioning legislative branch? Bring back earmarks.

Throughout U.S. history, earmarks have been directly connected to “pay-for-play” activities in Congress and have promoted wasteful spending such as the “bridge to nowhere.”

We recognize this reality. And yet, as a former Senate majority leader and a former chief deputy whip in the Senate, we know that changes must occur if we want to return Congress to its role as a functioning body. For that reason, we believe it is time to bridge the partisan divide and remove the ban on earmarks.

Yes, it is a bad idea to give members of Congress bundles of money to spend on unrelated projects in their districts with no check or balance. But that does not need to be the case. With proper safeguards, earmarks can promote a functioning congressional system.

While the goal of ridding Washington of controversy and wasteful spending was genuine, it has proved unsuccessful. Article I of the Constitution grants Congress considerable, yet constrained, power of the purse. This power instills the authority to direct spending, including earmarks, in an appropriate manner. When congressional leaders officially banned earmarks in 2011, they took bargaining power away from elected officials and placed it in the hands of bureaucrats. Thus began the constant nightmare of government shutdowns and budget showdowns, as we have seen over the past week.

With the right framework, earmarks can place this authority back in the hands of elected representatives and promote a more functional Congress with a sense of accountability.

The first step to reinstating earmarks is instituting a transparent process that would require lawmakers to attach his or her name to the earmark and provide a description of the funds’ intended use. The supporting member would then be subject to a type of oversight in which they would report back to Congress on the success of the earmark and the final cost of the project.

Congress could also establish guidelines that limit who can receive earmarks and for what purposes. Earmarks given to private entities, for example, could be limited to activities that benefit the public, such as research and development. The strongest use of earmarks could be to advance the infrastructure needs of states, cities and counties, as well as our public schools and universities.

People often ask us what is wrong with Congress and why Congress fails to pass vital legislation. One answer is fairly straightforward: The bargaining tools necessary to pass bipartisan legislation no longer exist. Members of Congress understandably seek to represent their states and districts in the best way possible — including voting for bills that benefit constituents directly. However, every member needs a valid reason to vote for a bill.

This story was originally published January 28, 2018 at 3:55 AM with the headline "Want a functioning legislative branch? Bring back earmarks.."