IN A CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY ARTICLE — sorry, subscription-only — David Obey explains what members of Congress want most — earmarks!:

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey, D-Wis., challenged House Republicans to join Democrats in supporting the bill despite the veto threat.

Obey made clear that lawmakers who support the president risk losing what many members most want out of spending bills: earmarks, or funding for local projects.

“I would ask every serious-minded person in this body if they really think there’s a chance of a snowball in Hades that members’ earmarks on either side of the aisle will survive if we wind up at the president’s level of funding,” he said.

Thanks for making those priorities clear, sir.