McCain-Palin on Earmarks: Do as We Say, Not as We Do

John McCain is against earmarks which allow Alaskan Senators like Ted Stevens, who is under indictment for bribes, to fund their pet projects without any competitive government review. The Bridge To Nowhere is one example of this abuse of the government procurement process. Palin at one point was for it but then came out against it. Palin has hired Washington lobbyists to use this earmark process to get ~$200 million for her small town of 6000 in Alaska. Plymouth, PA wouldn't have a chance against Barracuda.

Palin's earmark requests this year. Major parts of this year's request

September 13, 2008

Los Angeles Times

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin submitted a request this year for 31 federal earmarks worth $197.8 million. Her memo and the list of projects can be found on the website of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens at http://stevens.senate.gov/earmarks/Approps-StateofAlaska.pdf. Here are the biggest earmarks:

$71 million to build sanitation systems in rural areas

$25 million to compensate for reductions in the salmon harvest

$13.7 million to create a military readiness center

$10.4 million to install runway lighting at rural airports

$10 million to install large-diameter fish passage culverts

$8.7 million to recruit and train workers to build a natural gas pipeline

$6.3 million to upgrade communications for Alaska's Air National Guard 168th Air Refueling Wing

$5 million to help schools meet No Child Left Behind requirements

$4 million to build and maintain recreation trails

$4 million to conserve salmon in the Yukon River

Source: State of Alaska