Election year raises House earmarks

House lawmakers with one eye on their reelection battles have approved more earmarks this year than last year, according to a budget watchdog group.

An analysis by Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) found House lawmakers have approved $290 million more in earmarks this year. They’ve also approved about 200 more projects compared to last year.

{mosads}The local spending projects are included in appropriations bills approved by the House. Overall, the House has about $5.12 billion designated for earmarks in its spending bills.

“Election-year politics could be driving up the number and the dollar amount of earmarks,” said Steve Ellis, TCS’s vice president. “House members want to be able to bring something home to their constituents.”

Lawmakers often tout earmarks they have won in press releases from their congressional offices. Many say they are in Washington to bring as much federal funding as they can to their districts.

While House lawmakers are approving more earmarks, the Senate has green-lighted about 200 fewer earmarks this year. The Senate has slotted $7.05 billion for earmarks so far this year, more than a billion dollars less than last year, according to TCS.

TCS reached its findings by comparing the 15 spending bills that have been released to the public this year to last year’s related appropriations bills before they entered conference between the two chambers.

None of the earmarked projects are likely to become law this year, as the House and Senate are unlikely to send any appropriations bills to President Bush for his signature.

Democrats battling Bush over spending priorities may prefer to try their luck with his successor.

Capitol Hill has not made headway on its most earmark-laden bill, either — the defense spending bill, which has not passed out of committee in either chamber. Funding levels can change drastically for earmarks once both chambers complete the legislation, according to Ellis.

“It is the tail that wags the dog,” said Ellis.