Earmarks are a staple of business conducted by lawmakers and is the reason that appropriations lobbying remains a lucrative business on K street. The Seattle Times takes a look at $3.5 billion in earmarks that were slipped into the 2008 defense bill. Many weren't disclosed by the members who sponsored them. It's stories like these that leave people frustrated with Washington. Why were lawmakers able to sponsor earmarks that weren't disclosed? Send me an email or comment.