PORKBUSTERS UPDATE: Earmark reduction will figure in the State of the Union Address. From the pre-release:

Earmarks are provisions included in legislation that are often not subject to legislative or public scrutiny and that often lead to wasteful Federal spending. Earmarks have tripled in number over the last decade and have increased spending by billions of dollars. The President applauds Congress’ progress in requiring the disclosure of the sponsors, costs, recipients, and justification for each earmark, and calls on Congress to go further by enacting comprehensive earmark reform that brings greater transparency and accountability to the Congressional budget process, including:

* Stopping the practice of concealing earmarks in so-called report language instead of placing them in the actual language of the bill.

* Cutting the number and cost of all earmarks at least in half by the end of this session.

N.Z. Bear is pleased, and plans to send over some PorkBusters mugs. Perhaps the President can offer Trent Lott a cup of coffee in one the next time he visits . . . .