Two decades ago Ronald Reagan vetoed a highway bill that had some 150 earmarks, that is, special appropriations to specific projects that would be exempt from the normal enactment process and regulatory scrutiny.

FORBES: Fact and Comment

U.N. reform was a contentious issue in the yearly budgeting process prior to the enactment of Helms-Biden, with Republicans regularly slowing down appropriations for a number of international efforts, and refusing to sign off on dues payments until the U.N agreed to reforms.

CNN: Helms: U.S. will make massive dues payment to U.N.