Executive Order States Pork Has to Be Statutory Pork

An executive order issued by President Bush will require that

executive agencies will not commit, obligate, or expend funds on the basis of earmarks from any non-statutory source, including requests included in congressional committee reports or other congressional documents, or communications from or on behalf of Members of Congress, or any other non-statutory source, except when required by law, or when an agency itself decides that a project or other transaction has merit under statutory criteria or other merit-based decision-making.

A fiscally conservative step that will at least allow light to be shed on earmarks. It doesn't end the practice, but sunshine is a pretty good disinfectant and it is a start.