It would have the ancillary benefit of creating 300 million watchdogs on federal spending, and it may just shame a few requests out of the process altogether.
But, the "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska was a classic red herring - juicy, smelly and irrelevant. It was juicy because of its multimillion-dollar price tag. It was smelly because it seemed disproportionate to the population served. It was irrelevant because it did nothing to illuminate us about the corrupt appropriations system.
The problem is an opaque budget process and a bloated federal government. I believe real reform must come to the budget process. An earmark stricken from a bill on the floor of the House is not saved by the taxpayer, nor does it simply go into the general operating budget of the agency to which it was assigned.
Instead, budget "caps" mean that money is redistributed by the Appropriations Committee. Appropriators direct the money, sometimes corruptly, benefiting family members, business associates and personal causes.
Instead of 435 members voting on where your tax dollars go, a select few members of the Appropriations Committee decide. A well-meaning amendment, by which the proponent hopes to shine light on the process, in an ironic twist, actually drives that money to the dark recesses of the committee.
Another common misconception is that an earmark adds spending to the federal budget. If the federal budget were a pie, earmarks would be slices. But, approval or defeat of an earmark has no effect on the size of the budget or the amount government will spend.
The real villain here is a $2.9 trillion budget. A honey pot too hard for most mortals to resist. I fully recognize that, as Shakespeare said, "Tis one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall." But I also accept, as Shakespeare said, "Temptation is the fire that brings up the scum of the heart."
From Duke Cunningham to Abscam, steering a part of $2.9 trillion to your friends, family or associates is a temptation that we should do everything we can to diminish. The best way to do that is to open to scrutiny all influences on spending.
A vast majority of the members of the Congress are honorable people. I have had the pleasure to serve with many of them for years and they are as disgusted and tired of corruption as I am. Corruption was a big part of Republicans losing control of Congress: It is a pox on both parties.
We must cut the size and scope of the federal government. We need full and complete transparency about spending requests and where your tax dollars actually go. I can be up on YouTube before I get back to my office from the floor of the House. The budget and earmarks can as easily be available for scrutiny in real time, in plain English, and online.
Putting your hand in the cookie jar without getting caught is a lot harder when the lights are on.
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* REP. CHRIS CANNON is the five-term Republican congressman from Utah's 3rd Congressional District.
