Earmarks and the private interest of politicians

Washington Post:

Where public projects meet private interests

Thirty-three members of Congress have steered more than $300M in earmarks and other provisions to dozens of public projects that are next to or near the lawmakers’ own property, according to a Washington Post investigation. Under ethics rules Congress has written for itself, this is both legal and undisclosed.

It is another reason why earmarks should be banned.  It is probably also a reason why politicians c;ling to them.  They also want them because they are deemed politically valuable even if there is no private interest involved.