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  • Congress Facts: Earmark Electioneering

    By Paul Blumenthal on 10/02/06 @ 4:54 pm | 0 Comments

    As a new feature here at Sunlight we’re offering up Congress Facts, a monthly list of stats and facts on a particularly pressing issue in Congress. This month is focused on earmarking, in particular the use of earmarks as an election year strategy. Just take a look at the numbers from the competitive districts in Indiana and tell us what you think. If you’ve got a stat or fact in relation to earmarking feel free to add it in the comments. Go below the fold for more:

    • Number of Earmarks in FY 2007 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill: 1,810[1]
    • Average amount earmarked in this bill to districts of appropriators in contested elections: $2.76 million[2]
    • Average amount earmarked in this bill to districts of appropriators: $2.25 million[3]
    • Average amount earmarked in this bill to districts of non-appropriators in contested elections: $1.35 million[4]
    • Average amount earmarked in this bill to districts of non-appropriators in non-contested elections: $660,000
    • Number of Indiana congressmen locked in competitive elections in 2006: 3 (Chris Chocola, John Hostettler, and Mike Sodrel)[5]
    • Total amount earmarked to all Indiana congressional districts in 2007 appropriations bills: $36,167,000[6]
    • Amount earmarked to three competitive Indiana districts in 2007 appropriations bills: $21,550,000[7]
    • Percentage of Indiana earmark money going to three competitive Indiana districts: 59.6%
    • Number of earmarks in 2006: 15,832[8]
    • Amount earmarks cost in 2006: $71.77 billion[9]
    • Percentage of 2006 budget: 8.5%
    Congress Stats.

    [1] Allen, Jonathan. “Pork carefully rationed,” The Hill, September 5, 2006.
    [2] Id.
    [3] Id.
    [4] Id.
    [5] Smith, Sylvia. “Close races, clout draw House pork,” Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette, September 10, 2006.
    [6] Id.
    [7] Id.
    [8] Roberts, William and Charles R. Babcock. “Congress Failure to Curb Projects a Win for Lobbyist,” Bloomberg, September 19, 2006.
    [9] Id.