Congressional earmarks sometimes used to fund projects near lawmakers' properties

[mfcorey1]

AU.S. senator from Alabama directed more than $100 million in federal earmarks to renovate downtown Tuscaloosa near his own commercial office building. A congressman from Georgia secured $6.3 million in taxpayer funds to replenish the beach about 900 feet from his island vacation cottage. A representative from Michigan earmarked $486,000 to add a bike lane to a bridge within walking distance of her home.

Thirty-three members of Congress have directed more than $300 million in earmarks and other spending provisions to dozens of public projects that are next to or within about two miles of the lawmakers’ own property, according to a Washington Post investigation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2012/01/12/gIQA97HGvQ_story.html?wpisrc=al_comboNP

[Scuba]

1. Where's Bill Proxmire and his "golden fleece award" when you really need him?

[fasttense]

3. The level of corruption in our American society knows no bounds.

Corruption is everywhere. From the small time sheriff who rapes victims, to the federal congressman who double pays himself for trips, to the local judge who jails kids for profit, up through the Supreme Court justices who sell their votes.

It's everywhere, it's getting worse. Where will it end?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

5. I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you!

[loyalsister]

6. Yeah

And in MO, Kit Bond directed millions of dollars to the University of Missouri and transportation across the state. Not sure if there is a bus stop near his house, but if so.....

I take this with a grain of salt. The outrage over earmarks has been way overblown. A lot of good ones are gone because there is no distinction between corrupt, iffy, and productive earmarks.

It goes right along with the "all lobbyists are bad" falsehood.