earmarks
Sets aside funds
Earmarks are distinguishing characteristics that identify something: The proposal had all the earmarks of a scam.
The term comes from the practice of notching or marking animals' ears to show ownership.
In American politics, earmarks are provisions inserted into legislation to direct funds toward specific projects, often benefiting a lawmaker's home district: Critics called the bridge an earmark for a powerful senator.
To earmark money is to set it aside for a particular purpose.
Distribution of shares
- reserveSupply kept back
- set asideReserve for future use
- dedicateSet apart formally
- assignGive as responsibility
portion · allotment · commitment · ring-fence · specify · tag · label · designate
Unauthorized claiming or allocation
- fundingSupplying monetary resources
- allocationDistribution of shares
- pork-barrelSelf-serving legislative spending
- spendingOutlaying of funds
legislation · omnibus · bill · fiscal · subcommittee · discretionary · treasury · rider
Distinguishing characteristic or mark
- signatureHandwritten name for verification
- indicatorSign revealing status
- traitDistinguishing personal quality
- markerSomething that signals location
sign · telltale · distinguishing · feature · stamp · fingerprint · recognition · identifier
allocation
Distribution of shares
assign · portion · allotment · commitment · ring-fence · specify · tag · label · designate · target
appropriation
Unauthorized claiming or allocation
- fundingSupplying monetary resources
- allocationDistribution of shares
- pork-barrelSelf-serving legislative spending
spending · legislation · omnibus · bill · fiscal · subcommittee · discretionary · treasury · rider · amendment
hallmark
Distinguishing characteristic or mark
- signatureHandwritten name for verification
- indicatorSign revealing status
- traitDistinguishing personal quality
marker · sign · telltale · distinguishing · feature · stamp · fingerprint · recognition · identifier · attribute
tagging
Attaching identifying markers
- notchingCutting small grooves
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
marking · herd · cattle · sheep · pigs · ownership · ranch · farmer · clip · punch
- cattle ranchingcattle, cattle drive, cattle drives, cattle auctions, cattle branding
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- Congresssenator, representative, senators, House, bill
- Congress powersspending power, declare war, impeachment, lawmaking, appropriations
- Doublespeakcollateral damage, enhanced interrogation, friendly fire, regime change, neutralize
- federal budgetfederal budget, appropriations, deficit, national budget, surplus
earmarksdiscretionary spending
Non-obligatory personal expenditures
block grants · general fund · open competition · pooled resources · flexible spending
earmarkswastes
Uses poorly or discards
squanders · depletes · exhausts · dissipates · fritters away
- earmarked fundsMoney reserved for particular use