Senate Democratic leaders are opposing efforts to use the fiscal 2009 budget resolution to impose a one-year moratorium on member earmarks, a plan that may face procedural obstacles that would be hard to surmount.

“When it comes to projects around my state and the rest of the nation I don’t think it’s unreasonable for Congress to have some input in that discussion,” said Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin , D-Ill.

Both Durbin and Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., oppose the earmark amendment proposed by Jim DeMint , R-S.C., and backed by all three senators still running for president — Barack Obama , D-Ill.; Hillary Rodham Clinton , D-N.Y., and John McCain , R-Ariz.

Earmarks, typically funding set-asides for projects such as bridges, roads, academic institutions and other facilities in a member’s district or state, have come under increasing fire in recent years after they were linked to some corruption cases.

Their defenders argue that lawmakers familiar with a given state or district are better qualified to judge local needs than bureaucrats at an executive department in Washington.

The DeMint amendment is expected to be ruled “non-germane” to the budget resolution meaning that a point of order, requiring 60 votes to waive, could be raised against it.

Senate Republicans earlier set up a five-member panel to look at earmarks, and it is due to report recommendations by March 15. DeMint said he felt it was important to offer the amendment without awaiting that report because he did not believe the group would come to a consensus.

“It’s been mentioned that I should wait, but there are not too many chances to get a vote on the floor without it being objected to,” DeMint said.

The Senate continued debating the fiscal 2009 budget resolution Tuesday but no votes have yet been scheduled on amendments and votes may not occur until Thursday, at least on key issues. All three presidential candidates are expected to be on hand that day.