Congressional leaders spoke to reporters and answered questions about wasteful government spending programs. The news conference coincided with the release of the Congressional 2012 “Pig Book,” reported areports a “record low” of only 152 earmarks, a 98.3% decrease from the 9,129 earmarks in fiscal year 2010. The annual report revealed that although earmarks have dropped drastically, numerous pet projects had still found their ways into appropriation bills, despite the moratorium on earmarks.