Last Friday, White House Press Secretary Tony Fratto said the Democrats need a "12-step group to deal” with its earmarks addiction. Earmarks are those anonymous additions a.k.a. pork that Senators and Representatives tag on to appropriation bills and generally are tricky to trace back to them.
As the press secretary to a President who understands dependency issues, Fratto conveniently neglected to say that some key Republicans were sipping from the gravy boat themselves. According to the Hill
"Fratto did not mention the earmark haul made by senior Republicans. Sen. Thad Cochran (Miss.), ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $774 million worth of earmarks in total. After Cochran, Sen. Ted Stevens (Alaska), the second-ranking Republican on Appropriations, scored more money for special projects than any other member of Congress: $502 million.
Rep. Bill Young (Fla.), the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, was the second-biggest recipient of earmarked funds in the House, with $161 million."
How did Iowa's delegation do?
19 House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education earmarks totalling $3,925,000 for Iowa
71 Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education earmarks totalling $87,411,000 for Sen. Harkin (D-IA)
18 Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education earmarks totalling $10,045,000 for Sen. Grassley (R-IA)
A Future Support Group? Hey, why so defensive?
Rep. Murtha (D-PA) has Defense earmarks totalling $166,500,000
Rep. Lewis (R-CA) has Defense earmarks totalling $112,000,000
Rep. Kingston (R-GA) has Defense earmarks totalling $72,187,000
Rep. Young (R-FL) has Defense earmarks totalling $143,200,000
Rep. Visclosky (D-IN) has Defense earmarks totalling $53,500,000
Rep. Moran (D-VA) has Defense earmarks totalling $47,000,000
More earmarks? Try Earmark Watch
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