Posted on 03/04/2009 7:53:14 PM PST by tobyhill
Just saying the word "earmark" causes cringing in the halls of Congress.
The practice is legendary, and duty zealously guarded by members, Republican and Democratic alike. But opponents, and there are a few, have vilified the task to such a degree that sponsors are now on serious defense.
The $410 billion omnibus spending bill is filled with earmarks, special projects requested by specific members very often for their home states.
On Wednesday, the Senate approved 13 spending projects sought by a lobbying firm accused of funneling illegal campaign contributions to lawmakers
Senators voted 52-43 to preserve the so-called earmarks in a 1,000-page-plus catchall spending bill even though they were sought by the PMA Group, a lobbying firm that closed up shop after being raided by the FBI last year. They included money for high-tech firms and colleges in Pennsylvania.
The press has been having a field day with many of the earmarks, so much so that the sponsoring lawmakers felt the need to spend much of Wednesday defending their projects on the Senate floor.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Lawmakers defending their earmarks.
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