Pay to play. It's never really been a secret in Washington, D.C., but the egregiousness of this practice is just starting to rear its ugly head.

In today's Roll Call , it is being reported that longtime Rep. Jack Murtha's (D-PA) campaign was well funded by those for whom he secured earmarks. When he was in the fight for his political life last fall, Rep. Murtha cashed in chips he had accumulated through earmarking.

As you know, I've long r...