(sfgate.com) (09-02) 04:00 PDT Washington — House Democrats are making headway on their goals of slashing pork-barrel spending in half and disclosing more information about spending on lawmakers’ pet projects, known as earmarks.
But while spending on earmarks may be trimmed and more closely scrutinized this year, top Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi aren’t exactly suffering.
The San Francisco Democrat raked in almost $100 million in earmarks in the spending bills passed this year, according to an analysis by Taxpayers for Common Sense, which tracks congressional spending. That means Pelosi is getting more than 1 percent of all earmarks doled out to the House’s 435 members.
Pelosi’s top deputies are doing just as well – or better. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., brought in $85.5 million. Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., the House Appropriations Committee chairman, got $96 million. And Pelosi’s close ally, Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pa., who oversees defense spending, rang up $186 million for pet projects.
Congressional spending watchdogs say the story is simple: As the earmark pie shrinks, top Democrats and key House appropriators are still serving themselves big helpings of federal money for hometown projects. More junior lawmakers and those who don’t sit on the powerful spending committee are left scraping for a smaller share of a smaller pie.
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Few Republicans are ringing alarm bells over the spending of top Democrats. Why? Because many top Republicans, especially appropriators, are reaping similarly large amounts for their districts.
Rep. Jerry Lewis of Redlands (San Bernardino County), the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, pulled in more than Pelosi – $124 million. Florida Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young, the top Republican on the Defense Appropriations panel, received $142 million. He and Murtha, who control the biggest pot of money, apply an unwritten rule: The majority party gets 60 percent of the earmarks, the minority party gets 40 percent. (more…)
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