Want an earmark with that sandwich?

Sen. Dick Durbin plays host to a group of mayors from Illinois in his Capitol office. Chicago Tribune photo by Pete Souza.

Posted by Christi Parsons at 1:51 pm CST

The sandwiches he served were nice and the view from his office is spectacular, but Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) was under no illusion as to why thirty Illinois mayors were so eager to join him for lunch today.

"I know many of you will be coming to me for earmarks," Durbin told the mayors, referring to the process by which Congress doles out federal money for special projects to local officials who come calling every year.

Now that Democrats have taken over and Durbin is the second-in-command in the U.S. Senate, he’s in a position to give Illinois communities a leg up in that process – whether they’re seeking money for a new bridge, a road or a municipal building.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, here talking with Northbrook Mayor Gene Marks, was among the guests. Chicago Tribune photo by Pete Souza.

But congressional Democrats are also in the process of laying down some new rules about how that money will be handed out, specifically by making the process more open for public scrutiny. Durbin is personally responsible for pushing for changes that require posting earmark information on the Internet before a project can be considered.

Durbin said that shouldn’t be a deterrent to officials with legitimate requests, if they’re willing to publicly explain their projects and answer questions about the need for them.

"There is nothing wrong with an earmark appropriation," Durbin said. What’s wrong is that some players over time have used the process "to feather their own nests."

While visiting with the local officials, in town for the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Durbin acknowledged the late arrival of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

"Mayor Daley likes this room," Durbin told the crowd. "We sat in that room and watched the White Sox win."

Mayor Bill McLeod of Hoffman Estates piped up from the back of the room.

"Well, you better invite him for the Super Bowl!" he shouted.

Daley later said privately that he would decline such an invitation.

"I’m going to Miami," he said.