Final answer:
Democrats have referred to earmark spending as 'community project funding'. Earmarking is a term for provisions that direct funds to specific projects and is often related to pork-barrel spending. A bill being 'marked up' means it is being amended in the legislative process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Democrats have attempted to hide their use of earmark spending by referring to these funds as ‘community project funding.’
The term 'earmark' refers to a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, often benefiting a small group or a local constituency within a lawmaker's district. Earmarking has become synonymous with pork-barrel spending, which is often criticized as a practice that prioritizes local interests at the expense of the broader public and may contribute to the perception of corruption in political spending.
Regarding the question on a bill being marked up, the correct answer is that it is being amended. This is a legislative process where a bill is modified, added to, or revised before it is passed in Congress.
Therefore, the correct answar is d. Earmark