Despite new rules intended to increase transparency, many California congress members have requested large sums of money in earmarks this year.
The Los Angeles Times reports that many lawmakers have continued to line up for earmarks despite new rules requiring they post the requests online.
Here are the key grafs:
Judging by the long wish lists appearing on lawmakers’ websites, it won’t be easy for Obama to change Congress’ spending habits.
For example, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) has posted 45 pages’ worth of requests, including $500,000 for the city of Highland to buy police equipment and $1 million to improve Cabot’s Pueblo Museum in Desert Hot Springs.
…And Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-Lakewood), who is seeking $100,000 to install anti-graffiti coating on storefront windows in the Florence-Firestone district, said the project would “encourage more businesses to open in the area.”
As well as opening up the earmark process to public scrutiny, the new requirements have produced some insight into lawmakers’ views on federal spending.
The whole story is worth reading. Notably, Reps. Henry Waxman (D), John Campbell (R) and Darrell Issa (R) did not seek earmarks.
This news comes about a month after President Obama laid out his earmarks reforms, which failed to satisfy some critics.