“But even if Pelosi delivers the particulars of what she has so far pledged, it’s not exactly a revolution she’s offering. The gifts, free meals and travel she proposes to ban are largely symbolic perks to lawmakers….And Pelosi’s promised transparency on earmarks is a step down from Democratic campaign vows to ban earmarks sponsored by a lawmaker if the spending benefits the member, his or her spouse, relatives or firms that employ any of them. What’s more, Pelosi has tapped Wisconsin’s David Obey, a 37-year veteran of the House who is the top Democratic appropriator, with drafting the actual earmark reforms, a troubling choice given that Obey was responsible for approximately 40% of the past earmarks under an informal system established by both parties, according to Scott Lilly, Obey’s former chief of staff”. — Massimo Calabresi, writing in Time magazine on the purported reform of pork barrel spending in the new Democratic Congress.