NOW. Transcript. February 17, 2006 | PBS

MARIA HINOJOSA: Jim Dyer, a Republican, served 24 years on the staff of the House Appropriations Committee. Dyer says most earmarks have been a force for good. …

Dyer concedes though, and most everyone agrees, that the number of earmarks has skyrocketed. In 1994, when the Republicans took over Congress there were 1,300 earmarks in appropriations bills. Last year,that number had jumped to 14,000. The total cost to taxpayers? $27 billion dollars.

Dyer was one of the players when Newt Gingrich took control of the Republican leadership and earmarking became more of a political tool.

MARIA HINOJOSA: Wasn’t it true that Newt Gingrich in 1994 told the appropriations chairs to give more earmarks to Republicans in vulnerable districts in order to help them stay in office and get them reelected?

JIM DYER: Yes, that is absolutely true. And one of the– one of the items that has probably led to a proliferation of earmarks has been the determination on the part of the leadership to protect its own.