Some thoughts from Yuval Levin.

I would note that it would appropriate to think of the Senate design of NASA’s new (unneeded) rocket as being essentially a space transportation earmark for Utah (among other places). While it doesn’t explicitly steer the funds to that state, they will inevitably go there if NASA does exactly what Orrin Hatch demands — design a new heavy lifter that utilizes ATK solid boosters manufactured in that state. So it’s an excellent example of a disastrous transportation earmark.