Bringing back earmarks in federal spending is the worst “way to build back trust in Congress” because they are a quasi-legalized form of bribery” that “enables Washington’s spending addiction.” That’s according to 35 Republican members of the Senate and House of Representatives who signed a March 10 letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). “Members want Congress to help their communities, particularly now as the pandemic exposed so many inequalities and needs,” DeLauro said in a statement announcing the return. “Community Project Funding [CPF] will allow Members to put their deep, first-hand understanding of the needs of their communities to work to help the people we represent.” DeLauro said beginning in 2022 all members of Congress will be able to designate up to 10 earmarks, or CPFs, each year. Names of earmark sponsors and details of the projects to be funded are to …