Iowa's Porkers

[Vet31203]

The topic of earmarks is one that has been frquently chatted about on many of the Republican blog posts. I hear a lot of Democrat so and so did this and Liberal So and So did that, so I thought I should share a few facts about Pork Barrel Spending and our Representatives here in Iowa.

Fact 1: The leader among senators in earmarks?

Republican Thad Cochran Mississippi, with $837,000,000+!!!!!!

Fact: 2: The leader among Senators in Iowa?

Republican Chuck Grassley with $323,000,000+!!!

Fact 3: The Leader among Iowa congressmen?

Republican Tom Latham with $69,000,000+!!!

Fact 4: Notable Legislatures that have less ear marks than Latham's 63

Democratic Sen. Obama 55

Democratic Sen. Feingold 0

Democratic Sen. McCaskill 0

Democratic Rep. Boswell (IA) 26

Democratic Rep. Braley (IA) 27

Democratic Rep. Loebsack (IA) 25



Here is to hoping Latham's hypocrasy doesnt go unnoticed.

Happy Easter!

[Bluzmann57]

1. Thanks for this post

This info will certainly be passed around some people I know. They need to be educated about repubs and their wastefulness, especially Grassley's. One question: Do you have any links for this info? I don't like going into battle unarmed, so to speak. Thanks again.

[progressoid]

2. Hey, like Bluzmann said...

Do you have links/sources for your numbers? I too would like to rub this in some faces.


editd fir speling.

[Counciltucky]

3. Here's the thing, though...

Two points and a question:

Point A) Earmarks aren't bad in and of themselves. They CAN be (Bridge to Nowhere), but a lot of the time -- in fact, I'd say the majority -- they serve a good purpose. There may be a bill about, let's say, energy, but your Congressman may only add a provision to the bill which gives $1,000,000 to repave a highway by your house which has gone to shit over time. State governments are cash-strapped, so they need these federal earmarks to help with stuff like infrastructure. Earmarks can serve good purposes like this.

Point B) Republicans are hypocrites. This is nothing new.

Question) The statistics given, is that for just this Congress, or does this cover the legislators' entire careers in their current positions?

[Vet31203]

4. Source

Its congress.org and "power rankings" submenu.