Mead Treadwell in Politico.com

On Homeland Security: Fight for missile defense, but without earmarking

"I think the idea of earmarks is behind us," said Treadwell, who aligned himself with less spending-intensive parts of the Stevens legacy.

"Ted helped write the Alaska Statehood Act, before he was even in the Senate. The Statehood Act gave us a lot in the way of self-determination. Ted wrote the 200-mile limit bill [governing offshore fishing rights] with Warren Magnuson that gave us a multi-billion-dollar fishing industry in our state," he said. "None of that was earmarking and bringing money home. That was bringing power home." Added Treadwell: "The idea that, you know, you wait your turn to appropriate is not necessary."