How Congressional Earmarks Work

Think the Dems are allocating education and social services money any better, or differently, than those big bad Republicans did? Think again.

"When the House divvied up $282.1 million in earmarks for schools, hospitals and social programs, many poor congressional districts took a back seat to those represented by appropriators, party leaders and politically vulnerable lawmakers," according to this story from CQ Today (CQ Today - House Earmarks for Social Programs Follow Power and Political Needs). "The disparity can be seen by comparing the proposed disbursements to Xavier Becerra of Los Angeles, who represents the fourth-poorest House district as measured by median household income, with the earmarks corralled by Ron Klein of Florida, whose 22nd District includes the beachfront condominiums in Boca Raton and gated retirement communities in Palm Beach and Broward counties."

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