Mysterious fund allows Congress to spend freely, despite earmark ban

By Cole Deines, CNN

May 28, 2011 -- Updated 2354 GMT (0754 HKT)

Washington (CNN) -- The defense bill that just passed the House of Representatives includes a back-door fund that lets individual members of Congress funnel millions of dollars into projects of their choosing.

This is happening despite a congressional ban on earmarks -- special, discretionary spending that has funded Congress' pet projects back home in years past, but now has fallen out of favor among budget-conscious deficit hawks.