Congress Packs $12.7 Billion in Pet Projects into Spending Bill
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Over 6,600 earmarks totaling $12.7 billion were included in the recent minibus spending bill passed by Congress. Earmarks fund specific projects in lawmakers' districts.
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Earmarks used to be banned but were brought back by Democrats in 2021 and now have bipartisan support again. However, some still view them as "pork barrel spending."
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Famous past earmarks include Alaska's "Bridge to Nowhere" and a currently controversial $1 million for an LGBTQ community center that also hosts "kink" events.
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Even dead or former members of Congress like the late Senator Dianne Feinstein still got over 100 earmarks in the latest spending bill.
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More earmarks are expected in upcoming spending bills, with the next major one containing two-thirds of discretionary spending due next week.