As U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Ted Stevens rose in power and influence on the Defense Appropriations Committee, so did the money both lawmakers were able to send back to their states.

Hawaii and Alaska consistently ranked as the top two states in congressional earmarks—money appropriated for specific projects in the senators' home states—what some call pork-barrel politics.

But while Hawaii has remained near the top of the list, Alaska's earmark fortunes have fallen substantially since Stevens left office, and some see that as a harbinger for the islands once Inouye leaves office.

In 2008, the last full year Stevens was in office, his earmarks totaled $456.9 million for Alaska projects, according to an analysis from the group Taxpayers for Common Sense; Inouye brought in $414.3 million.

Stevens, a Republican and close friend of Inouye's, lost his bid for re-election two years ago. The senator who replaced him, Democrat Mark Begich, has had to start from the bottom when it comes to earmarks. His total for the current fiscal year was just $53.6 million.

When Stevens was in office, Alaska was the top state in per capita earmarks—normally receiving more than $300 per person in federal funds, said Steve Ellis, a spokesman and vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Hawaii is the top per capita state this year, with $318 per person in earmarked congressional dollars. The vast majority of the $412.2 million for Hawaii came because Inouye, now the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sponsored or co-sponsored the earmarks.

This year, without Stevens, Alaska's per capita earmarks dropped by more than half to $140 per person. Total congressional earmarks for the state were $97.6 million, less than a quarter of what Stevens, by himself, brought home in 2008.

What happened to Alaska will happen to Hawaii when Inouye eventually leaves office, Ellis said.

“;He (Inouye) is the top dog. He's the chairman, and he's not going to be in the Senate forever,”; Ellis said. “;You have pretty junior lawmakers in the House, pretty junior lawmakers in the Senate, and their ability to bring home the bacon is going to be significantly decreased.”;

“;To the extent that any (Hawaii) institution depends on them (earmarks), they're going to have to come up with a Plan B,”; said Neal Milner, a political science professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Inouye, 85, was elected to the Senate in 1962. The Democratic senator announced Wednesday that he would seek re-election to his ninth term. He likely will face no serious opposition.

Jonah Kaauwai, Hawaii Republican Party chairman, said Inouye should be working to diversify the state's economy by making it easier for small businesses to grow rather than focusing on earmarks.

“;Earmarks are not free. They are tax-based and taxpayer-funded,”; Kaauwai said.

Inouye makes no apologies for his earmarks.

“;My work is motivated by the immediate needs of my fellow Hawaii residents and to position Hawaii to thrive,”; Inouye told the Star-Bulletin in December.

Ellis' group advocates for reform of the congressional earmark system.

“;Our biggest concern about earmarks is it's about political muscle rather than project merit,”; he said. “;We're making funding decisions based on who is asking for the money rather than what is the best project.”;

Earmarks also create opportunities for political donors to influence appropriations.

“;It's a petri dish for corruption,”; Ellis said.

Earmarks are only a small percentage of the federal budget.

The earmarks identified by Taxpayers for Common Sense total $15.9 billion this year, just over 1 percent of the federal government's discretionary spending and a smaller fraction of the total $3.5 trillion federal budget.

Still, Ellis noted, “;when you're looking at as large a deficit as the federal government (has), every dollar counts.”;

Ellis points out that Hawaii Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono are third and sixth, respectively, in obtaining earmarks in the House of Representatives.

But that likely reflects Inouye's power rather than the efforts of the House members, he said.

Hirono obtained $1.1 million in earmarks by herself, while Abercrombie took credit for $13.3 million in solo earmarks.

Combined with other members of Congress, Hirono's total this year was $116.6 million and Abercrombie sponsored or co-sponsored $102.7 million in earmarks.

“;They (earmarks) show that he (Abercrombie) been very successful in making the case for Hawaii's projects to his colleagues and committees in the House and has been working effectively as a member of Hawaii's congressional team,”; said Randy Obata, Abercrombie's press secretary.

In a written statement, Hirono said: “;We take pride in the fact that Hawaii's congressional delegation works as a team to bring resources to our state. Having the senior member of our delegation chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee clearly enhances our ability to meet Hawaii's needs.”;

EARMARKING THEIR COMMENTS

Here's how the three major congressional candidates in the upcoming special election to replace U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie feel about earmarks:

» ED CASE: “;I will continue to pursue appropriate and affordable designated federal spending for crucial Hawaii needs, together with long-overdue reforms to the congressional earmarking and budget process. ... Earmarks do have a dark side. ... The answer to that is not to eliminate earmarks altogether but to fully reform the earmarking process by imposing number and cost limits, quality controls and full transparency, and by related campaign spending reforms.”;

» COLLEEN HANABUSA: From a campaign spokeswoman—”;Earmarks, such as federal construction appropriations, have provided a means for economic benefit for Hawaii with respect to jobs and overall economic stimulus. When Sen. Hanabusa is elected to Congress she will work closely with Hawaii's congressional delegation and other colleagues to find ways to bring down the deficit while continuing to lobby for funding that benefits the people of Hawaii.”;

» CHARLES DJOU: “;I think earmarks are screaming out for major and dramatic reform. ... The use of earmarks is one of the major contributing factors to our multi-trillion dollar budget deficit in Washington, D.C. ... I will not do any secret earmarks or any last-minute earmarks. ... I think in order to have reasonable earmark reform when someone proposes an earmark, they should also propose cuts in the budget somewhere else.”;