something needs to happen. >> desjardins: multiply ansonia's story by 5,000.that's how many projects have been requested as earmarks so far. while critics grit their teeth, lawmakers are now deciding not if, but which projects like this make it into spending bills. for the pbs newshour, i'm lisa desjardins. >> woodruff: and now, we turn to the analysis of brooks and tumulty. that is "new york times" columnist david brooks, and karen tumulty, deputy opinion editor for the "washington post." jonathan capehart is away. it's so good do see both of you on this friday. but let's pick up david with that wonderful report earmarks coming back, a good thing or not? >> brooks: a good thing. i missed wrernt they so romantic first earmarks allow leadership to pass bills, because they can offer recalcitrant members this or that. so they paid passing bills. they make congress less polarized, because it becomes more transactional rather than ideology. they didn't go away, they just went to the executive branch. so one man sitting in the transportation department made decision