now you sound like we've read some of your comments and you sound like you're still for earmarks. can you clarify that for us? >> uh-huh. i believe very, very strongly that -- that as an elected official and as the constitution clearly provides that power of the purse remains with the legislative body. i feel that it is our job as legislators to make sure that people back in washington, d.c., the agencies, the administration know and fully understand what -- what the needs, what the issues are in my state. so i'm not going to abandon the effort that i need to make to make sure that alaska's interests are represented. >> one of the most famous earmarks of all time, the so-called bridge to nowhere from alaska, people in this country are sick of the government handouts and giveaways. >> well, and i think when you -- when you put it in that context, when you say it's a government handout or give away