Details about this story

• Source: Associated Press
• Date: June 08, 2008
• URL: Read the story
• Bylines: Jim Kuhnhenn , Andrew Taylor
• Topics: Lobbying , Congress
• Data Types: Federal Data
• Description/Excerpt: An examination of many of those earmarks by The Associated Press and two dozen newspapers participating in a project sponsored by the Associated Press Managing Editors found much greater disclosure since 2006 but no end to what has become ingrained behavior in Congress. Assisting the project were two nonprofit and nonpartisan watchdog organizations – the Sunlight Foundation and Taxpayers for Common Sense. Millions of the dollars support lobbying firms that help companies, universities, local governments and others secure what critics like Republican presidential candidate John McCain call pork-barrel spending. The law forbids using federal grants to lobby, but lobbyists do charge clients fees that often equal 10 percent of the largesse. Earmark winners and their lobbyists often reward their benefactors with campaign contributions. For many members of Congress, especially those on the Appropriations committees, such as Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., campaign donations from earmark-seeking lobbyists and corporate executives are the core of their fundraising.
• Database or Graphic: Go to site (org/specials/interactives/wdc/state_earmarks/)