....Logically, if concerns such as DRS Technologies of Parsippany and Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken get millions in earmarks, as they do, it's no shock that officials with the company and the college are going to contribute to the congressman, in this case, Frelinghuysen, who got them the money.

A question is, does the earmark or the contribution come first? But over time, that distinction is easily blurred. It does become a revolving door type of thing with money going in both directions....