Congress: up to its ears in earmarks
Fox News
by Susan Estrich
05/04/06
While most of the country has been discussing immigration, Republicans in Congress have been making fools of themselves debating which earmarks they're willing to own up to. This is the issue that reportedly brought Speaker Dennis Hastert to his knees in the Republican Conference, begging his colleagues for support. Yes, would they admit to each other who was sponsoring special hurricane relief of $500 million for Northrup Grumman, or spending $700 million to move a railroad that had already been rebuilt, or spending $15 million to encourage people to eat seafood? Earmarks are the special interest goodies added to bills to benefit a particular person (no, not one of us) or company, one that usually has a relationship with the lawmaker who makes this wonderful gesture for him or her. This is how Washington works, and if you have a good lawyer and a good lobbyist, it's all legal...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,194163,00.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
by Susan Estrich
05/04/06
While most of the country has been discussing immigration, Republicans in Congress have been making fools of themselves debating which earmarks they're willing to own up to. This is the issue that reportedly brought Speaker Dennis Hastert to his knees in the Republican Conference, begging his colleagues for support. Yes, would they admit to each other who was sponsoring special hurricane relief of $500 million for Northrup Grumman, or spending $700 million to move a railroad that had already been rebuilt, or spending $15 million to encourage people to eat seafood? Earmarks are the special interest goodies added to bills to benefit a particular person (no, not one of us) or company, one that usually has a relationship with the lawmaker who makes this wonderful gesture for him or her. This is how Washington works, and if you have a good lawyer and a good lobbyist, it's all legal...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,194163,00.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
rudkla - 5. Mai, 15:00
