Anxious about earmarks, those Congressional pork rinds inserted by individual legislators in appropriation bills to benefit their home districts?
Well, Congressfolk for the first time this year were required by law to post their earmark wish list on their websites for the edification of the voters. Here are this year's local-area requests from Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, whose 18th district includes 18 counties, including eastern and southern parts of Licking:
- $600,000 to improve Newark city water treatment system and reduce sewer outflows into the Licking River.
- $4 million to Momentive Performance Materials in Hebron to develop next-generation transparent armor materials for future vehicle and other military applications.
- $500,000 to City of Heath to construct a water tower.
- $500,000 to Licking County Water and Wastewater Department to upgrade the Jacksontown sewer system.
- $500,000 to the Madison Township Fire Dept.in Newark to enhance preparedness.
- $40,000 to study the need for a central water system in the village of Hanover.
See the entire Space package at:
http://space.house.gov/uploads/Zack_Space_FY2010_Appropriations_Requests1.pdf
Nothing for Johnstown or Pataskala or Granville?
Those communities are in Rep. Pat Tiberi's 12th District, and the Republican congressman has declared his district earmark-free as an issue of principle.
"Securing earmarks has spawned a seamy Washington business, in which lobbyists and the interests they represent ply lawmakers with campaign donations, and lawmakers deliver earmarks that benefit those special interests," Tiberi wrote on his website on March 11.
(It should be noted that Congressman Pat only began shunning earmarks last year after Democrats took over the House and it appeared unlikely he would get much in the way of political booty anyway).
See his born-again rant against earmarks at http://tiberi.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=114165
Sorry about that, Pataskala and Johnstown and Granville. Maybe come 2012 or so you'll be redistricted and/or get a new House representative willing to bring home the bacon.
(Gray Hunter)
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