Does anyone have the downlow on earmarks and individual v group? see link...

[elixir]

I'm trying to figure out the earmark controversy and understand why has so many. If you go to this link it's from the non-profit that analyses all this info, you'll notice that Hillary is up there but some of the other big rollers (Landrieu, Byrd, Inouye (sp?)) are surprising to say the least. Does anyone have an explanation? Thanks!!

http://www.taxpayer.net/budget/fy08earmarks/databases/membernumbers.xls

[kikiek]

1. I couldn't bring it up I don't have right software, but I believe not all earmarks are created equal

Some are done to pay back supporters who will benefit. Others are to help kids etc. We would need to see what each one is. They are only bad and too many when the Democrats are in office. Pure speculation, but I would think Landrieu's are largely for NO. The Senators need to show they're paying attention to the interests of their home states. A bridge to nowhere was an obvious abuse.

[elixir]

4. Agreed, and I guess I need to find an explanation of what those earmarks are...TX

[kikiek]

2. Here is a link to some of HIllary's.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200801/POL20080124e.html

[elixir]

3. I have the information, I just need an explanation of why her's appear extremely high (top 10). Is.

it possible that the group earmarks are misleading due to geographics (eastcoast) or...what?!! I'm wondering what's our explanation of this problem.

[kikiek]

5. I certainly think location is a big factor along with who they're for. Funding needle exhanges,

kids health, etc is beneficial to us all.

[elixir]

6. A little background on CAGW (citizens against government waste)...

Citizens Against Government Waste is a non-profit group responsible for researching, analyzing and presenting data on government pork. I recently posted a link to their spreadsheet along w/ questions as to why HRC was in the top 10. If she truly is so incredibly wasteful and special interest oriented, so be it, and I will certainly be disillusioned at the least. But, if the data were presented w/ more detail about what the pork represents I could make a more informed decision about my candidate. Wouldn't it be unfortunate if votes were lost due to a candidates data showing high earmarks but it turned out to be for an important cause. I.e., Landrieu of LA has huge $$ of earmarks and, as another poster suggested, it may very well be due to Katrina efforts.

BTW, A little research into CAGW notes that the organization was formed by J. Peter Grace, multimillionaire industrialist and conglomerateur, of W.R. Grace and Company fame, and journalist Jack Anderson. The organization has been accused of fronting lobbying efforts of corporations to give them the appearance of "grassroots" support. http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/02/Worldandnation/For_price__watchdog_w.shtml

The CAGW's current President is Thomas A. Schatz.

"CAGW was founded by the late industrialist J. Peter Grace and late Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Jack Anderson in 1984 following the completion of President Ronald Reagan’s Private Sector Survey on Cost Control (the Grace Commission). A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization, CAGW works to eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government and has attracted more than one million members and supporters nationwide. According to official Office of Management and Budget and CAGW estimates, implementation of Grace Commission and other CAGW waste-cutting recommendations has helped save taxpayers $944 billion."



http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/News2?abbr=CCAGW_&page=NewsArticle&id=11177

[displacedtexan]

7. The Sunlight Foundation is a good place to start.

R earmarks are usually the ones that benefit individuals; although,
some of them are actually beneficial (after school programs, etc.).

Start here, and mouseover for info.

Note: My husband works for a progresive foundation (after school programs,
post-prison jobs programs, etc.), which has been around since
The Kerner Commission. The funding for the foundation is based on congressional earmarks.

Not all earmarks are bad.