A new report from a budget watchdog group says that an overwhelming majority of lawmakers asked for billions of dollars for pet projects last year.

Virginia Republican Congressman Eric Cantor and West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller are among only 18 lawmakers who didn't seek earmarked funds for home state projects last year.

The group, Taxpayers for Common Sense, says only 12 members of the house and six members of the Senate opted not to seek so-called "earmarks."

More than 500 other members of Congress easily filled the gap, obtaining more than $18 billion worth of earmarks.

According to the database, the champion earmarker is Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska. A close second is Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia.

Stevens obtained the lion's share of the $345 million in earmarks Alaska is getting this year. Alaska's earmarks in 2008 amount to $506 for every resident of the state.

Byrd got $330 million this year for West Virginia. Taxpayers for Common Sense ranks that amount third in terms of pork dollar per resident at $198.

Taxpayers for Common Sense advocates sharply curbing the practice of earmarking.