By SHANNON McCAFFREY
Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) -- U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson showed their support Tuesday for a two-year moratorium on pork barrel earmarks, joining fellow Republicans in a push to halt a popular political practice which lawmakers have used for years to fund projects at home.

Both of Georgia's senators have the used earmarks to funnel money to projects in Georgia.

Chambliss and Isakson voted for the nonbinding resolution in a private Republican conference Tuesday afternoon.

Chambliss said he supported the ban which has become a hot issue among conservative Republicans in Washington but also offered a caveat.

``There are times when crises arise or issues come forth of such importance to Georgia, such as critical support to the port of Savannah, and the nation that I reserve the right to ask Congress and the president to approve funding,'' Chambliss said.

Isakson also said he would continue fight for funding for the state while also working to cut federal spending.

``I agree we should not be funding projects that are frivolous or nonessential functions of the federal government,'' Isakson said.

Although both senators have resorted to earmarks, Chambliss has secured far more in earmarks than Isakson, according to Legistorm, a website that compiles federal earmark data.

According to the site, Chambliss has been the sole sponsor on 47 earmarks worth $580.5 million from fiscal year 2008-2010. He has been a co-sponsor 313 earmarks worth $1.7 billion. His name has appeared on $2.3 billion worth of earmarks.

Most of Chambliss' larger earmarks have been for Georgia's military bases, such as construction of trainee barracks at Fort Benning and other infrastructure improvements at Fort Stewart.

Isakson secured 11 solo earmarks worth $5.6 million. He co-sponsored 251 earmarks worth $1.65 billion. Isakson's name has appeared on a total of $1.65 billion in earmarks. Among his larger earmarks was a peer reviewed breast cancer research treatment program with several other senators.

He and Chambliss also collaborated on a little over $200 million in earmarks for a regional security operations center in Augusta, Ga.

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