Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 12, 2008 3:26:58 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Dem Congress Still Dishing Out Pork

Posted May 24, 07 4:42 PM CDT in Politics,  US 

(Newser) – Democrats in Congress pledged to cut the pork out of appropriations bills, but the new majority is already cheating on the diet, reports the  Washington Post. Using a technique called "phonemarking," congressmen are contacting federal agencies directly and asking them to fund their pet projects, all while boasting that their bills contain no earmarks. Changes in wording are used to disguise special-interest spendings;

For instance, a new House appropriations bill for the Iraq war contained no earmarks, but a clause that said all the projects included in the earlier, vetoed bill, were still included. "Absolutely nothing has changed," said an appropriations watchdog who worked for both parties. "While they are pretending to reform things, they are still groveling in the trough."

Source Washington Post

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Nat'l Review: Stevens, Get Out

    Jul 30, 08 1:16 PM CDT
    Nat'l Review: Stevens, Get Out Newly indicted Ted Stevens should resign as soon as possible, write the editors of the National Review. The Alaskan senator, who is accused of seven counts of making false statements, legally “deserves the benefit of the doubt—but not from an ethical standpoint,” they note. “The facts that have emerged over the course of the federal investigation into his personal finances are damning enough on their own.” More »

  • Hagel, Snowe Jump Ship

    Jul 11, 07 4:14 PM CDT
    Hagel, Snowe Jump Ship Two more Republican senators crossed party lines today to back legislation that calls for the US to start pulling out of Iraq within 4 months and withdraw by April. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Maine's Olympia Snowe of Maine signed on on as co-sponsors of the measure, along with Oregon's Gordon Smith and Democrats Carl Levin and Jack Reed. More »

  • Democrats Don't Live Up to Hype

    Jun 12, 07 4:36 PM CDT
    Democrats Don't Live Up to Hype Seven months after wresting control of Congress from Republicans, Democrats have failed to make good on their promises, writes the Economist. Almost none of the bills introduced in the first "100 hours" has become law, AG Alberto Gonzalez still has a job, and an Iraq pullout is nowhere in sight. More »

  • Dems, President Get Serious On Iraq Compromise

    May 2, 07 7:25 AM CDT
    Dems, President Get Serious On Iraq Compromise After a day of partisan theatrics—what the Politico notes may rank as the Capitol's most celebrated sendoff for a doomed bill—work gets serious on a compromise war spending bill that may include benchmarks but no timelines. Bush meets with congressional leaders to begin formal negotiations today, even as the House makes a futile effort to override yesterday's veto. More »

  (Getty Images)
  (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Threads (
1
 of 4)

Tags

Iraq war  • Congress  • Republicans  • Senate  • Nancy Pelosi  • Democratic Congress  • senator  • earmarks  • Senate Democrats  • pork barrel spending  • House Appropriations Committee


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other US Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »