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Pelosi Turns Blind Eye

Pelosi Postured on Earmark Reform and Pork-Barrel Projects

"…Ms. Pelosi also spoke out against earmarking billions of dollars for home-state projects, a practice she calls a ‘monster’ that hurts congress.  ‘I’d get rid of all of them,’ she says.  ‘None of them is worth the skepticism, the cynicism the public has…and the fiscal irresponsibility of it." (Wall Street Journal, 07/13/2006)

Pelosi Turns Blind Eye As Her Choice for Majority Leader, Jack Murtha, Continues to Deal for Dollars

"The new earmark disclosure rules put into effect by Congress confirm the pre-eminence of Representative John Murtha at procuring eye-popping chunks of pork for contractors he helped put in business in Johnstown, Pa. The Pennsylvania Democrat, a power player on defense appropriations, exudes pride, not embarrassment, for delivering hundreds of millions of dollars in largesse to district beneficiaries. They, in turn, requite with hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations.

"Mr. Murtha led all House members this year, securing $162 million in district favors… Mr. Murtha’s universe is a far more complicated and costly creation of interlocking contractors who continue to feed at the public trough despite reviews questioning their performance."

"But the Murtha operation — which has become a model for other entrepreneurial lawmakers — is a gross example of quid pro quo Washington. Every one of the 26 beneficiaries of Mr. Murtha’s earmarks in last year’s defense budget made contributions to his campaign kitty, a total of $413,250…"  (New York Times, 01/14/2008)