Hawai’i delegation proud of earmarks

Posted by kyle

March 8, 2009

Hawai’i delegation proud of earmarks

By John Yaukey
Advertiser Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON – While other senators spent last week arguing over the evils or merits of special project funding they stuffed into a $410 billion spending bill, Hawai’i’s lawmakers have happily boasted about their take, which looks to be considerable.

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was expected to be among the top beneficiaries of the so-called omnibus spending bill.

And he is.

But an analysis of earmarks by Taxpayers for Common Sense found that second-term U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat, led the 435-member House of Representatives with $138.6 million in pet projects – or earmarks – in large part because they were co-sponsored with Inouye.

In fourth place was Democratic U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, with $111.4 million.

Hirono wa