In the meantime, Sestak believes in advocating for worthy projects in his district. He discloses details of his earmark requests on his official House website and places other restrictions on campaign contributions from recipients.
Since taking office in 2007, Sestak has won a total of $20.2 million in earmarks he sought individually, according to Legistorm, a website that compiles databases of congressional documents.
Most of Sestak's earmarks to for-profit corporations have gone to defense contractors who have operations in his Seventh District, centered in Delaware County. Sestak has also secured millions for universities, nonprofit organizations, and local governments.
Earmarking, the longtime practice of individual lawmakers tucking funding for pet projects into appropriations bills without competitive bidding, has come under increasing fire in recent years. Critics say the system creates possibilities for pay-to-play corruption, or at least the perception of it.
"We think it's a major problem because of the appearance of impropriety, of trading earmarks for campaign contributions," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
"It's part of the reason people don't trust politicians," she said. "Sestak is better than most, but it's the system that's the problem."
This year, deficit hawks are again targeting earmarks, a relatively tiny part of the federal budget, amid public concern about the exploding national debt. Sestak's Senate opponent, Republican Pat Toomey, has pledged never to seek earmarks if elected.
