In Search of Presidential Earmarks(Bush put in 15,877 earmarks in FY05)

[RedEarth]

In Search of Presidential Earmarks

Pork, a Capitol Hill Staple,
Also Is White House Custom,
But Much Tougher to Track
By JACKIE CALMES
February 21, 2006; Page A6

WASHINGTON -- Presidents like pork, too.

With Congress on the defensive about members' appetites for earmarks -- those funds in spending bills dedicated to projects special to constituents and contributors -- Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill are taking a look at President Bush's plate of spending favorites. And his wife's as well.

There's the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program, which this year has $24 million for grants to train people for the first lady's former profession. For the fiscal year that starts in October, Mr. Bush seeks $10 million for Preserve America grants for communities' historic preservation efforts and $50 million for the Helping America's Youth Initiative -- also among programs championed by Mrs. Bush.

While the Education Department's budget would be cut, Mr. Bush proposes a 16% increase to $204 million for teaching sexual abstinence in high schools, a popular cause for social conservatives. The president's $5.3 billion request for the Army Corps of Engineers includes scores of proposed water and wetlands projects.

"The administration always wants specific things," says Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, who, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and chairman of its subcommittee for commerce, justice and science programs, is practiced at earmarks for home state Alabama. "I guess you could call it whatever you want to."

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114048474700578604-1uImGVxZNMwm9RzLyHregMY3Hjk_20070220.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

[UpInArms]

1. WP: Earmarks Became Contractor's Business

(hmmmm..... don't know if they're related stories, but.... gotta follow the trail wherever it leads)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/20/AR2006022001154.html?referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email

In the fall of 2003, Randy Beck, the president of a small San Diego manufacturing company, showed a new acoustics technology he was developing to his neighbor, defense contractor Brent Wilkes. Wilkes soon came back with an unusual proposition.

Wilkes said that Congress had set aside or "earmarked" $25 million in the military budget for the Navy to develop an acoustical system. He promised he could win the government contract to develop the system for Beck's Horizon Sports Technologies, according to allegations in a lawsuit. In return, Wilkes wanted $1.5 million up front to cover his lobbying expenses and a 51 percent interest in a new company they would set up to collect the government cash.

Wilkes's dealings with Beck -- outlined in court records after a falling-out -- provide insight into how one businessman set out to exploit the Washington system of earmarking -- the practice of members of Congress setting aside pots of money for pet projects. That practice, involving billions of dollars annually, is vulnerable to abuse because much of the lobbying and decision making takes place behind closed doors, according to critics. And Wilkes, who has been implicated in the bribery-related conviction of resigned Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.), pushed the limits of that system.

Although it is common for lobbying firms to charge clients large fees to pursue earmarks, Wilkes's demand for a majority interest in the resulting contract is highly unusual, experts said. "It has a strong, bad odor about it," said Kenneth A. Gross, a Washington lawyer who specializes in ethics law. He said many states, including California, have banned such contingency, or success, fees, though there is no federal prohibition.

...more about "earmarks"...