In the video below, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint expertly rebuts U.S. Rep. James Clyburn on two major points -- that earmarks do indeed lead to higher levels of spending and that they're often hidden in non-binding report language that don't have the force of law. 

Congressman Clyburn would also be wise to read U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn's recent column on what the framers of the Constitution would've thought about the contemporary earmarking process.