Earmarks That Slip Through The Cracks
In The Favor Factory, the Seattle Times outlines in disturbing detail earmarks worth $3.5 billion that were hidden, tucked away, in the 2008 defense bill. Another $4.5 billion were "declared." The researchers report:
The hidden earmarks range from $8 million for lighting sold by a financially troubled company in North Carolina to $588 million for a submarine the administration doesn't want.
To be clear, the Seattle Times reporters are including spending requests that might not be technically called an "earmark" because they are not clearly identified with one specific Senator or Representative. However, they do meet another characteristic of an budget earmark: they apply to a very limited number of individuals or entities. And in many cases, back in the home district or state, the Congressman took credit for bring home the bacon, so to speak.
I'll be writing more about this series. For now, we should recognize the 58 Congressmen (including the five Senators) who had no earmarks in the 2008 bill. Also, see What Is An Earmark
Comments
Third debate and another rehash by McCain
on earmarks. No follow-ups to bring out the fact that Az and Ak are “recipient” states re total federal spending per capita and that Il and De are 2 of ~16 “donor” states (both about $1500 more federal taxes paid per capita than total federal spending in Il and De), according to www.taxfoundation.org for the latest year data is available, 2005.
Arizona has had a number of federal water projects and defense bases that lead Az to now receive about $1400 per capita more than
Az pays per capita in federal taxes.
Alaska is the largest per capita state at the federal $ trough–~$8500 “net” per capita of federal spending in Ak over federal taxes paid per capita, despite huge state oil and gas tax revenue.
McCain and Palin can rhetorically make a big deal about their rugged western independence, but it seems that Az and Ak and a majority of other “red” states often have their hands out for more money from Washington. McCain can refuse earmarks for Az because other congressmen from Az have done more than their fair share. When LBJ was Senate Majority Leader, he used to say about Sen. Carl Hayden: Here comes that old man from Az with a bucket and he wants me to fill it up for him.
Hello. And Bye.