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December 2, 2008 11:55:45 AM CST

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Pricey Pet Projects Thrive in Congress

Posted Dec 21, 07 10:29 AM CST in Politics 

(Newser) – The earmark lives. Despite much public clamoring about lawmakers loading up budgets with expensive pet projects, not much changed this year: The domestic and defense budgets contain more than 11,000 such earmarks, the Washington Post reports. "It would take leadership in both parties—and a lot more shame—to ever rein them in," said a watchdog group.

The number of earmarks is technically down, but critics say that's just because Congress reworked the definition—"like saying you’re meeting your weight-loss goal by not counting your backside.” One $20 million project funds an Alaskan “ferry to nowhere." Another gives $9 million to Kentucky for "rural domestic preparedness." President Bush yesterday threatened to cancel thousands of the earmarks.

Source Washington Post

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Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, secured more than $20 million for an "expeditionary craft" that will connect Anchorage with the windblown rural peninsula of Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Critics say the project...   (Associated Press)
President Bush has threatened to cancel thousands of the special projects, saying he has ordered White House budget director Jim Nussle to determine the extent of the president's authority to respond...   (Associated Press)
The omnibus bill provides $126,000 for the National First Ladies' Library in Canton, Ohio, a favorite cause of the earmark's sponsor, Rep. Ralph Regula (R), whose wife founded the museum and whose daughter...   (Associated Press)
Democrats have actually made good on their pre-election promises to cut the number of earmarks: the total fell 25% from last year, the Washington Post reports. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)   (Associated Press)
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George W. Bush • Ted Stevens • congressional Democrats • earmarks • US Congress • federal spending • Citizens Against Government Waste • Taxpayers for Common Sense


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