They’re Back: Lawmakers Want $6 Billion In Earmarks In Upcoming Federal Budget

budget earmarks

Fox News is reporting that lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are requesting nearly $6 billion in earmarks and pet projects in the upcoming federal budget.

The network announced that “earmarks make a return in Congress.”

“Lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives have asked for at least $6 billion in extra funding for local projects ahead of the upcoming federal budget,” they write.

Fox broke down some of the biggest head-scratching numbers after analyzing the requests.

“Earmarks have become a controversial part of the political process over the last few decades,” they note.

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Earmarks Are Back

The return of earmarks in the budget comes amid record spending proposed by the Biden administration.

House Democrats in February, as Roll Call revealed, “ended a decadelong prohibition on congressionally directed spending and giving lawmakers new tools to ‘bring home the bacon.’

And they’ve certainly added a lot of bacon.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) requested $742,000 for a program partially featuring “inclusion and healthy discussions around difficult issues such as racism, gender discrimination and cultural bias” in New York.

Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) requested “$250,000 for an expansion of the Michelle Obama Library.”

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Return Of The Swamp

While certainly interesting, the Michelle Obama Library expansion and programs in racism and gender discrimination are far from the most expensive items on the list.

Topping the list, nearly twice the second-highest amount, is a request of $7,110,080 for the City of Cottage Grove Shoppes by Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig.

At least three requests involve millions for “wellness” programs while another involves nearly half a million for a “meditation and restorative yoga program.”

Roll Call mentioned how Republicans “in both chambers are struggling with whether to remove party rules that bar them from participating in the process.”

Some of them are struggling with participating more than others.

Politico reports that at least six Senate Republicans “have committed to requesting earmarks during the current congressional session, despite an ostensible conference ban on the practice.”

The six so far include: 

  • Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt
  • West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito
  • Maine Sen. Susan Collins
  • South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham
  • Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski
  • Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby

Daily Caller adds, “Ten other Republican senators said that they were undecided on the practice, five refused to comment, and 29 confirmed that they would not request earmarks.”

Republicans in the House don’t seem to have an issue. Michigan Republican Jack Bergman wants almost $2 million to upgrade a local YMCA. 

Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), one of those saying they don’t intend to request earmarks, believes there’s not enough money for a wish list.

“For one thing, there’s not even enough money where we’re even talking about fulfilling everyone’s desires,” he told Politico.

You can read Fox News’ top 50 list of the earmarks here.

 

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Rusty Weiss has been covering politics for over 15 years. His writings have appeared in the Daily Caller, Fox... More about Rusty Weiss

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