I know that at one time or another, I have said that earmarks serve no real purpose and are a waste of taxpayer dollars - although to be fair, some of the earmarks actually, believe it or not, have some merit.  But by and large, they’re pet projects.  And you know what?  The politicians – Democrats and Republicans alike – aren’t exactly mindful of that fact.  I have the Top 20 “earmarkers” aka lawmakers who partook at the federal trough:

1) Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va. — $122,804,900 

2) Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. — $114,484,250 

3) Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo. — $85,691,491 

4) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. — $76,899,425 

5) Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss. — $75,908,475 

6) Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska — $74,000,750 

7) Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa — $66,860,000 

8 ) Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. — $53,133,500 

9) Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. — $51,186,000 

10) Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii — $46,380,205 

11) Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. — $39,228,250 

12) Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. — $36,547,100 

13) Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt. — $36,161,125 

14) Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. — $35,577,250 

15) Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. — $27,169,750 

16) Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. — $26,628,613 

17) Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. — $25,320,000 

18) Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis. — $23,832,000 

19) Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. — $21,952,250 

20) Former Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. — $19,588,625

Now, if you want the full report, just click here.  It isn’t pretty folks – and it is yet another reason to demand earmark reform.