Earmarks are popular for all of the following reasons EXCEPT ______.

a. constituents benefit from them
b. representatives can use them to claim credit for bringing money home
c. representatives can increase their chances of reelection because of them
d. they put the needs of a few beneficiaries ahead of the needs of the nation as a whole

d. they put the needs of a few beneficiaries ahead of the needs of the nation as a whole