Any story with the headline "Earmarks: Is it pork or bringing home the bacon?" must be an interesting read, but I think your article ( April 13) tried to sensationalize the fact that our state's federal representatives are just doing a good job for North Dakota.

When you look at all of the projects that Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy have secured funding for in our state, you'll see an effort to create jobs, improve infrastructure and invest in research and development. All you have to do is read some recent stories from newspapers in the eastern part of the state to understand this impact.

One of North Dakota's biggest problems is the fact that our young people feel like they need to leave the state to get a job. Our congressional team of Dorgan, Conrad and Pomeroy are working to attract more federal research dollars to our universities, which will create the new technology jobs our state needs.

Also, I don't know anyone who thinks that the flood control funding our state has received is "pork." It's crucial to our safety, and every dollar secured at the federal level helps relieve pressure on our local and state budgets.

Competition for federal funds is fierce. We can be thankful Dorgan, Conrad and Pomeroy are getting the job done.