This is funny. No more waisting money. Lets have change. No more earmarks?? OK I guess this is OK.



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/opinion/04dowd.html?em

Here are a few of them. Almost 9,000 of them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Before the Senate resoundingly defeated a McCain amendment on Tuesday that would have shorn 9,000 earmarks worth $7.7 billion from the $410 billion spending bill, the Arizona senator twittered lists of offensive bipartisan pork, including:

• $2.1 million for the Center for Grape Genetics in New York. “quick peel me a grape,” McCain twittered.

• $1.7 million for a honey bee factory in Weslaco, Tex.

• $1.7 million for pig odor research in Iowa.

• $1 million for Mormon cricket control in Utah. “Is that the species of cricket or a game played by the brits?” McCain tweeted.

• $819,000 for catfish genetics research in Alabama.

• $650,000 for beaver management in North Carolina and Mississippi. OK I wont say anything

• $951,500 for Sustainable Las Vegas. (McCain, a devotee of Vegas and gambling, must really be against earmarks if he doesn’t want to “sustain” Vegas.)

• $2 million “for the promotion of astronomy” in Hawaii, as McCain twittered, “because nothing says new jobs for average Americans like investing in astronomy.”


• $167,000 for the Autry National Center for the American West in Los Angeles. “Hopefully for a Back in the Saddle Again exhibit,” McCain tweeted sarcastically.

• $238,000 for the Polynesian Voyaging Society in Hawaii. “During these tough economic times with Americans out of work,” McCain twittered.


• $200,000 for a tattoo removal violence outreach program to help gang members or others shed visible signs of their past. “REALLY?” McCain twittered.

• $209,000 to improve blueberry production and efficiency in Georgia.

If it weren't so pathetic, I would be laughing.

All of this while millions of people are out of work and loseing their homes. What does this lead on to believe about our goverment???

well they have to pay back the lobiest that paid to get them voted in. if this isn't a reason to start shedding the dead wood from the congress then i don't know what is. change didn't win....just the same old song.

That they couldn't give two !@#$% about the average citizen struggling to make it. I mean really...$13 per week in tax relief for the average middle class person? You can't fill your gas tank once a week with that extra money. It's such a joke.

many obama supporters are second guessing...little late.

you have to wonder about all those people who were drinking the "Obama Kool-Aid", thinking this guy was the savior of the earth. I'll never know what it is people see in this guy.

every time his Democrat buddies in Congress send him a spending bill loaded with these earmarks, he will not pause for a momemt before signing it.

people forget that as much as Bush was disliked as shown by his approval rankings - Congress' approval ranings were worse. And it's because of stuff like the items on that list.

nothing will ever change either until a legitimate, viable 3rd party (and possibly a fourth) starts gaining seats in Congress. until that day - which probably never comes - it will always be more of the same.

Obama's comments about the stock market yesterday were shocking. People are seeing their life savings evaporate before their eyes and he treats it as nothing more than a tracking poll and isn't concerned about the market's "fits and starts"? Is he serious? Barring a serious attitude adjustment on his part, I think we're going to rue the day that we ever voted for this guy.

Here comes the GOP bashing the democrats, since they have nothing else to do and know the whole party is in trouble. I still have confidence Obama will do a somewhat change of this country even if it's a tiny tiny tiny drop. I really wish politicians acted like mature people all they do (both gop and democrats) are bash each other.

I also wish some people see actress party lines instead of being hard core republicans or democrats. eg Rush Limbaugh.

he didn't run on a tiny drop, but i do agree with your sentiment on a whole...
fyi
mccains proposed earmark cut failed to pass, they obviously like to spend money we don't have.

This has nothing to do with party affiliation; it has to do with common sense. How could Obama say that he wasn't concerned about the stock market's decline when it's affecting peoples' lives in such a negative way? It's absurd. It's just as bad as when Bush said that he wasn't aware that gas was rising to $4/gallon last summer. It doesn't matter whether they're Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives, out-of-touch politicians are bad news for all of us.

Didn't Obama say something like he wasn't concerned with "day to day" fluctuations in the market? IMO he's right there. The president should have more important things to worry about. People are relying too much on the stock market to fund their retirments and that's part of what created this mess in the first place.

Maybe so, but this isn't a "day-to-day" flucuation. We've seen a full-blown collapse in the past several months.

If people don't invest in the stock market, where else can they go? Your money isn't going to grow much getting 2 percent interest with your bank's savings account. You can't rely on Social Security exclusively. Over the past 100 years, the stock market has historically been the best-performing asset class, based on average annual returns. But it isn't a place to be if you need the money in a short period of time, say five years or less down the road.

Very few jobs these days (outside of union and municipal workers) have pensions. So how else are people supposed to fund their retirements? Through IRAs and 401k plans invested in the market.

I know bonds were a good long-term investment in the past and that's how some of my college tuition is being paid for. Not many people buy any of these anymore.

Not a bad idea. Bondholders are more protected than common stock holders in situations where a company goes belly-up. They're first in line to get paid when the assets are liquidated. Common shareholders get shafted more often than not.

can you even count on them at this point....time to hunker down and keep your money for a little bit imo.

doesn't help when this is part of you sec of treasury history..... how many tax dodgers will obama keep.

At the Senate confirmation hearings, it was revealed that Geithner had not paid $35,000 in self-employment taxes for several years,[25] even though he had acknowledged his obligation to do so, and had filed a request for, and received, a payment for half the taxes owed. The failure to pay self-employment taxes was noted during a 2006 audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in which Geithner was assessed additional taxes of $14,847 for the 2003 and 2004 tax years. Geithner also failed to pay the self-employment taxes for the 2001 and 2002 tax years until after Obama expressed his intent to nominate Geithner to be Secretary of Treasury.[26] He also deducted the cost of his children's sleep-away camp as a dependent care expense, when only expenses for day care are eligible for the deduction.[27] Geithner subsequently paid the IRS the additional taxes owed,[28] and was charged $15,000 interest, but was not fined for late payment.[29]As President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Geithner, as all FRB employees, annually completed an ethics statement noting any taxes due or unpaid, along with any other obligations. Geithner's completed statement did not surface during confirmation hearings.

In a statement to the Senate panel considering his nomination, Geithner called the tax issues "careless," "avoidable" and "unintentional" errors, and he said he wanted to "apologize to the committee for putting you in the position of having to spend so much time on these issues."[28] Geithner testified that he used TurboTax to prepare his own return and that the tax errors are his own responsibility.[30] This statement is in conflict with statements by the Obama campaign that Geithner was advised by his accountant that he did not owe the taxes [31]. The Washington Post quoted a tax expert who said that TurboTax has not been programmed to handle self-employment taxes when the user identifies himself as being employed.[32] Geithner said at the hearing that he was always under the impression that he was an employee, not a self-employed contractor,[32] while he served as director of the Policy Development and Review Department of the IMF.[8] Geithner comments are contradicted by the Senate report that showed he was not only informed of his status, but that he actively applied for the allowance

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29534876/wid/18298287/?Gt1=45002

sounds like a load of horse poop....wait pig poop

these people have been living with this smell for years, now we have to spend this $$$ for their nose?...now's not the time.

Nit, there will be people that say everyone is needed. Is there an earmark for the clean up in Ringwood. the Ford plant they have been cleaning up for years. Or were I was in Maywood. there is a site that has been on the superfund list for 30 Yrs. A town with a cancer hotspot. You can go on and on. This is not about Dem VS Rep. This is about political bull sh!t. No one should be ruiting against BO! If they are its pretty dam silly. If he fails so does the USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This package should be about jobs and the economy. Not the smells or the saltwater mouse etc etc. Both parties have them in there. But, This would be a great time for BO to step up and say no to the earmarks!! Stick to his word. Remember, if BO fails we will have 3.75 yrs of hell!

I was actually posting it for more of an amusement than anything else. I didn't even think MSN would put up an article like that about just one portion of the earmarked funds.

I'll say what Rush said; if Obama's goal is to move this country towards socialism, you're damn right that I'm hoping he fails. Socialism DOES NOT work. Never has, never will. It removes all incentive to work hard and produce. Why would you bust your hump, only to see a huge portion of the fruits of your labor redistributed to the slackers of society? You'd be stupid to do that. The only way to make someone do that is if they're forced to by the government. That is called tyranny.

It becomes clearer every day...that is exectly what his goal is.

All we need is better regulation to control the greed. Too much is no good and too little is no good, we need to find the middle ground.

One side of the issue is people keeping wanting more and more money, more then anyone in in his/her lifetime will need to live even in a upper class setting. Look at how the rich people are totally out of control with reality and think anyone below them are pieces of garbage and "slaves". The another side of the issue is some people want to sit on their asses all day on the couch watching tv and sleeping while getting free money from the government. Look at how people have babies without money, you'd think they wouldn't have any more children, but they keep on having them over and over again..uh?? Just to get more from money the government and abuses it.

The working middle class people always get screwed.

People laughed at me when I said I voted for Ron Paul.

I just don't understand why you guys thought Obama was going to lead to some Golden Age.

I voted for McCain and I would again. Sure, the guy isn't the orator that Obama is, but in the coming months and years I think you guys are going to find out that charisma is overrated when it comes to the presidency.

Once the honeymoon period is over, all that matters is knowledge, experience and heart. Here's Obama, after the honeymoon, and so far - He still sounds like he's in campaign mode.

I don't see things getting much better within the next couple of years.

Just to clarify - I'm not giving you an anti liberal speech. Although I am anti-liberal. I'm just saying, the American people were pretty gullible when they bought Obama hook, line and sinker.

All of that said: McCain is by no means my dream ticket either. Just saying - I feel he would do a better job than Obama. Obama's about glitz and glam...he's not about results imo.

Yeah, but who controls the greed? You want more government regulation? I'm your neighbor, and I swear to you that bureaucracy is crippling the country's sense of self and hampering the younger generation's ambition.

This is America. We don't need more Government. We need the right Government.

Out of anyone running, I thought Hilary Clinton was the best option. Has experience, fairly moderate, and knows what she is doing.

We need the government to start working for the people. Look at the Ted Stevens, Rod Blagojevich, Charles Rangel etc. The list goes on and on about how politicians abuse their power and only care about me, myself and I. Don't even get me started how corporations and lobbyists are running the show in the country. Take a good look at how the RIAA and MPAA are doing everything in their power and money they can to control the public.

Once again: I'm a Republican. Not a Conservative, but a Republican.

I have to agree with you. In fact, the only reason why I voted for McCain was because Hillary wasn't on the ticket. When the Dems chose Obama over Hillary, I thought it was a horrible mistake...and terribly unfair to Clinton.

She'll do a fantastic job as Secretary of State...but her talents definitely lie elsewhere. She's the real deal...and has it all.

Hey, you're preaching to the choir. I think it's unbelievable what's going on in government today.

This is why we just have to be careful, as the people, in what we ask for. Sometimes the quick fixes that government can supply us with wind up permanently giving the government an amount of power that they should not have in America.

I love this quotation. I think it came from Thomas Jefferson:

Any government that has the ability to give you whatever you need also has the power to take away everything that you have.

Without commenting on any specific issue or post, let me point out the man has been in office for exactly 50 days as of today. He said things will get worse before they get better and that it could be years before they get better. There is no instant fix anyone can install on this problem. Its going to be a slow, painful process. Criticizing him as a President. Or saying he has failed to deliver after just 50 days is really a sad statement on the mentality of this country.

funny...he only said that AFTER he was in office. Never said that during the campaign.

he did say something along the lines of it won't be easy. That the road ahead will be long and difficult. But that if people and government work together we would come out of this. He may not have used the timeline of years. But anyone who thought "long" meant two or three months deserve to live in a delusional world.

Yeah, Obama did say it will take some time, but America will come out of it like we have done in our history facing many different problems before.

The idea of the media (Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh) bashing Obama every single moment of the day is really pathetic. Give him a break and wait a year before making some kind of judgment on Obama. All they're doing is creating "buzz" and getting their fan base all going (conservatives) to bring in the ratings = $$$$$.

the fact is obama isn't doing what he said he was going to do...transparency of gov't, cleaning house, no earmarks, socialists ideas, etc.

The criticisms are not nit-picking.

He said "no" to earmarks while campaigning, yet the bill has over 8,000.

He'd be a statesman if he promised to veto it and told Pelosi to come back with a bill without the pork.

And out of the 8,000 there are only 3 people that dont have one in there. So, as I said before, its the politicians Not Dem VS Rep.

As far as him with the veto, he won't. Pelosi, when asked if he did, said she would fight it. So he wont do it.
But, I think he should show he has a set of nads! Show the world he is a man of his word. Veto it and let Pelosi and the others look bad!! That would make many people open there eyes.

OK, to give you an Idea of earmarks, this list is just the ones that Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich sponcered in...... Dont get me wrong, many of these are good ones. But not this year. Just my 2 cents


Requests by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.:-- $30,000,000 for dredging in St. Mary's River, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wis.
-- $17,000,000 for a replacement lock at Sault St. Marie, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., and Obey.
-- $5,024,000 sugarbeet/avian disease and oncology labs at East Lansing, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $5,000,000 for Michigan Harbor dredging, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $4,945,000 for dredging in the Detroit River, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich.
-- $4,545,000 for several entities including Michigan State University for wood utilization research, requested by multiple lawmakers including Levin, Stabenow, and Rep. Mike Rogers,R-Mich.
-- $3,923,500 for the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transit for bus maintenance and engine replacement, requested by Levin, Stabenow, former Rep. Joseph Knollenberg, R-Mich.; Dingell, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich.; and Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick, D-Mich.
-- $3,806,000 to the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research to benefit multiple states, including Michigan, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Rogers, Conyers, Stupak and others.
-- $3,800,000 for the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy for preservation and redevelopment of a public park and related business activities in the Corktown Neighborhood, requested by Levin.
-- $3,525,000 for dredging in Saginaw River, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Mich.
-- $2,157,000 for Great Lakes fishery and ecosystem restoration, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Rep. Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich.; Sander Levin, D-Mich.; former Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., and others.
-- $2,000,000 for the Nature Conservancy in Lansing for a conservation easement for the Northern Great Lakes Forest Project, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Stupak.
-- $1,903,000 to the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences in Ann Arbor to develop lightweight materials to increase fuel efficiency of vehicles, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Dingell.
-- $1,900,000 for Battle Creek Unlimited, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $1,900,000 for Lansing's Capital Area Transit Administration for buses and facilities, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rogers.
-- $1,662,500 for BuSolutions Advance Transit Research, requested by Levin and Knollenberg.
-- $1,662,000 for dredging in St. Clair River, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich.
-- $1,617,000 for the Michigan Community College Association in Lansing for an alternative training energy training initiative, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $1,615,000 for the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport for a terminal project, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich.
-- $1,425,000 for Detroit for fare box improvements, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Kilpatrick and Conyers.
-- $1,427,250 to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. in Lansing to establish a center on biological, economic and social solutions for cellulosic biofuel production, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Stupak.
-- $1,427,250 to the North American Die Casting Association in Washington, D.C., to develop materials for cars to improve energy efficiency without compromising safety or performance, requested by Stabenow and others.
-- $1,218,000 for dredging in Grand Haven Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich.
-- $1,195,000 for sediment remediation projects in the Great Lakes area, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Ehlers, Rep. Levin, Walberg and other lawmakers.
-- $1,189,375 for BluWav Systems in Rochester Hills for a modular energy storage system for hybrid vehicles, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $1,078,000 for dredging in Rogue River, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $1,000,000 to the Michigan Research Institute in Ann Arbor for aerospace research, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $1,000,000 for Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary in Alpena for the lease of the Great Lakes Heritage Center, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $951,500 to the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. for energy efficient street lighting, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kilpatrick.
-- $951,500 to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. in Lansing to establish a Biogas Center of Excellence to produce biogas from a wastewater treatment facility to use as fuel, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.
-- $950,000 for Kalamazoo Metropolitan Transit for facility expansion, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Upton.
-- $950,000 for the Ann Arbor-Detroit regional rail project, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $950,000 for the Oakland County International Airport runway and taxiway improvements, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $945,000 for dredging in Monroe Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Dingell.
-- $900,000 for the Roseville Police Department for dispatch consolidation in Southern Macomb County, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Sander Levin.
-- $880,000 for dredging in Ontonagon Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Stupak.
-- $793,000 for dredging in St. Joseph Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Upton.
-- $750,000 to the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research including for research conducted at Michigan State University, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Rogers, Conyers and Stupak.
-- $750,000 for the Downriver Community Conference for aid system preparedness, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Dingell.
-- $722,000 for the W.K. Kellogg Airport new runway, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Walberg.
-- $712,500 for Detroit for buses, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Conyers.
-- $650,000 for Eastern Michigan University for monitoring invasive plants; requested by Levin, Stabenow and Dingell.
-- $625,000 for the Oakland County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement technology, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $607,000 to the Genesee County Drain Commissioner to complete construction of 15 miles of sewer pipe and two pump stations, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.
-- $571,000 for The Manor in Jonesville for a treatment and counseling center, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $570,000 for Negaunee for Croix Street, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Stupak.
-- $546,000 for dredging in Holland Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Hoekstra.
-- $523,000 for Adrian College for facilities and equipment, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Walberg.
-- $500,000 for the Oakland County Drain Commissioner for a sewer overflow control demonstration project, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $500,000 for Wayne County to improve the water quality of the Rouge River, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Dingell and Knollenberg.
-- $500,000 for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $500,000 for the Detroit Economic Development Corp. for wastewater infrastructure improvements along the East Riverfront District, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kilpatrick.
-- $500,000 for Grand Rapids for park improvements and combined sewer overflow separation, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Ehlers.
-- $500,000 for Mason for a water treatment plant, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rogers.
-- $500,000 to the Downriver Community Conference for equipment upgrades, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Dingell.
-- $500,000 for Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary in Alpena for exhibits and telepresence technology, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $500,000 for Flint for computers and cameras in police cars, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.
-- $500,000 for Lansing for law enforcement technology, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rogers.
-- $500,000 to the Ingham County for law enforcement technology upgrades, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $500,000 to Macomb County for an emergency operations center, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $500,000 to the Upper Peninsula 15 County Consortium to complete a statewide radio system, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Stupak.
-- $500,000 for Our Community's Children in Grand Rapids, for after-school and summer programs, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Ehlers.
-- $478,000 to Negaunee for wastewater infrastructure, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Stupak.
-- $476,000 for Community Health and Social Services in Detroit for a health clinic, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $475,750 for the University of Detroit Mercy to renovate the chemistry building, requested by Levin, Conyers and Kilpatrick.
-- $475,000 for Detroit's Options for Growth study, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Kilpatrick and Conyers.
-- $475,000 for Highland Park to eliminate blight in the North Point neighborhood, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Conyers.
-- $475,000 for the Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County for facility renovation and expansion, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $475,000 for the I-94/I-275 interchange ramp reconstruction in Romulus, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Dingell.
-- $459,000 for dredging the Clinton River, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Miller.
-- $428,000 for Siena Heights University in Adrian for a nursing program, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Walberg.
-- $410,000 for dredging in Ludington Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Hoekstra.
-- $404,000 for soil erosion and sediment control in the Great Lakes, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Rogers, Ehlers, Sander Levin, Walberg and other lawmakers.
-- $400,000 to Birmingham Family Therapy for a restorative justice program, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $385,000 for Macomb County for a business incubator, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Sander Levin and Miller.
-- $381,000 for the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor for facilities and equipment, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Dingell.
-- $381,000 for Detroit for its Health Disparities Reduction Project for women and children, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Kilpatrick and Conyers.
-- $381,000 for Michigan Works in Benton Harbor for a workforce transformation process, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Upton.
-- $380,000 for Oakland County for the creation of a lab and advanced manufacturing facility, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $346,000 to Michigan State University and the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station for apple fire blight research, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and eight House members including Rogers, Ehlers, Upton, Hoekstra and Walberg.
-- $346,000 to Michigan State University for phytophthora research, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Dingell, Upton, Ehlers, Rogers, Hoekstra and Walberg.
-- $343,900 for Detroit for business development, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kilpatrick.
-- $332,500 for the Enterprise Group of Jackson Inc. in Jackson for demolition of a vacant structure, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Walberg.
-- $325,000 for dredging in Muskegon Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Hoekstra.
-- $300,000 for Port Huron for a combined sewer overflow control project, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $300,000 for Fife Lake aquatic weed control, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $300,000 to Mason and Oceana Counties for a joint emergency communications center, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $300,000 for the United Way of Southeastern Michigan for a prisoner re-entry program, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kilpatrick.
-- $300,000 for Eastern Michigan University for services for high-risk teen parents and their families, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Dingell.
-- $295,000 for Detroit to help welfare recipients with getting a higher education, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Conyers.
-- $289,000 for dredging in Presque Isle Harbor, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $285,000 for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids for an electronic medical records initiative, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Ehlers.
-- $285,000 for Oakland Community College in Bloomfield Hills to lead a consortium on workforce development for emerging business sectors, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Knollenberg, Sander Levin, and Rogers.
-- $285,000 for the Quincy Smelter in Franklin Township for remediation and preservation, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $285,000 to Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti for a teacher training program, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Dingell and Kilpatrick.
-- $285,000 for Caro Transit Authority for buses, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.
-- $275,000 for dredging Frankfort Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Hoekstra.
-- $266,000 to Michigan State University for sustainable agriculture research, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Rogers, Ehlers and Walberg.
-- $250,000 to St. Clair County to complete a communications system, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $250,000 to The Manor in Jonesville, for youth trauma treatment and counseling services, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Walberg.
-- $248,000 to the USDA Wildlife Services for the bovine tuberculosis eradication project, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Stupak.
-- $246,000 to Michigan State University for bovine tuberculosis research, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Rogers and Walberg.
-- $245,643 for the Michigan Aerotropolis Telecommunications Portal and Logistics Center in Wayne County, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Dingell.
-- $245,643 for the United Way for Southeast Michigan in Detroit to help ex-offenders become self-employed, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Knollenberg, Conyers and Dingell.
-- $238,000 for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit to support family caregivers, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Knollenberg and Sander Levin.
-- $238,000 for Cleary University for an early dual enrollment program, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rogers.
-- $238,000 for Detroit to promote daily physical activities, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Kilpatrick and Conyers.
-- $237,500 for Buena Vista Township for town center infrastructure and streetscape, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.
-- $225,000 for the Point Betsie lighthouse in Frankfort, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $210,000 for dredging Port Austin Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Miller.
-- $200,000 to Wayne County for a juvenile justice program, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kilpatrick.
-- $200,000 to the Saginaw Police Department for a gunshot locating system, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.
-- $191,000 to implement the St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair management plan, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Sander Levin and Miller.
-- $190,000 for Rochester College in Rochester Hills for a nursing initiative, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $190,000 for St. Joseph Health System in East Tawas for facilities and equipment, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Stupak.
-- $190,000 for St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac for an electronic medical records initiative, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $190,000 for Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills for facilities and equipment, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $190,000 for Hamilton Community Health Network in Flint for facilities and equipment, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.
-- $190,000 for the Arab-American and Chaldean Council in Lathrup Village for a job training initiative, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $190,000 to Lansing Community College for a military medic transition program that helps them retrain for medical jobs, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rogers.
-- $190,000 for Oakland County for the Wireless Oakland initiative to provide technology training, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $190,000 for buses for the Benzie Transportation Authority, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Hoekstra.
-- $190,000 for Saginaw Transit Authority for bus and transit improvements, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.
-- $190,000 for Mott Community College in Flint for the Center for Advanced Manufacturing, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $190,000 for the Bay Regional Medical Center in Bay City for facilities and equipment, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.
-- $190,000 for the Branch Area Transit Authority for new buses, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Walberg.
-- $183,000 for dredging in Charlevoix Harbor, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $176,000 for Delta County for computers in police cars, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $167,676 for Wayne State University for the law school's small business clinic, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kilpatrick.
-- $167,000 for dredging in Grays Reef Passage, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $147,000 to Michigan State University to develop dry beans resistant to white mold infection, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Ehlers and Rogers.
-- $145,000 to dredge channels in Lake St. Clair, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Miller.
-- $142,725 for Grand Rapids to replace the city government building roof with a green roof system, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Ehlers.
-- $142,500 for Starr Commonwealth in Albion to renovate living quarters and classrooms, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Walberg.
-- $142,500 for the Kent County Convention Arena Authority for and outdoor amphitheater and support facilities at Millennium Park, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Ehlers.
-- $142,500 for Michigan State University in Holland, for conversion of a former pharmaceutical plant into a center that will house bio-based start-up companies and researchers, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Hoekstra.
-- $139,000 to the USDA Wildlife Services for cormorant control, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Stupak.
-- $128,000 to St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba for facilities and equipment, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Stupak.
-- $119,000 for the University of Detroit Mercy for facilities and equipment, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Kilpatrick and Conyers.
-- $104,000 to Michigan State University for armilliaria root rot research, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Rogers and Walberg.
-- $100,000 to Genesee County to help those transitioning from prison, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $100,000 for Cleary University in Howell for a micro business incubator, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rogers.
-- $100,000 to Wayne County flood prevention work to Ecorse Creek, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Conyers, Dingell and Kilpatrick.
-- $100,000 to the Human Development Commission in Caro for after-school and summer programs for kids, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.
-- $96,000 to the office of the Oakland County Drain Commissioner for water quality improvements to the Clinton River, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Knollenberg.
-- $95,000 for Metro Health in Wyoming, Mich., for an electronic medical records initiative, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Ehlers.
-- $95,000 for Hillsdale's Dial-A-Ride for buses, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Walberg.
-- $95,000 for the Greater Lapeer Transportation Authority for buses, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Miller.
-- $95,000 for Holy Cross Children's Services in Clinton, for renovation of living quarters and classrooms, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Walberg and Stupak.
-- $82,000 for dredging Pentwater Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Hoekstra.
-- $80,000 for dredging in Keweenaw Waterway, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $75,000 for dredging in Arcadia Harbor, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Hoekstra.
-- $73,693 for the Detroit Creative Business Accelerator to construct a space for the accelerator and to start operations, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kilpatrick.
-- $69,000 for dredging in Sebewaing River, requested by Levin and Stabenow.
-- $48,000 for Lansing for an Army Corps of Engineers study on the Grand River, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rogers.
TOTAL: $153.6 MILLION

that's it reght there lab, he had the talk, but isn't walkin the walk

I find it ironic...though not surprising...that the same people who said we shouldn't blame Bush for the bad economy are blaming Obama for its continued downward trend.

i don't blame either at this point, its the senators and congress. i do agree with labs point above though. at this point once someone is elected pres, they are at the mercy of these scumbags. when people relize it thats when things may change.

Exactly...

That is a good quote.

Came across this today:

http://www.slate.com/id/2213556/?gt1=38001

Why the GOP Should Shut Up
Six out of the top 10 Senate earmark hogs are Republicans.
By Timothy Noah
Posted Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 5:49 PM ET


Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., wants you to know that he voted against the $410 billion spending bill President Obama signed into law on March 11. His fellow Republicans "tried to cut the bill's cost. Our ideas would have saved billions of taxpayer dollars. Unfortunately, every one was turned aside." Well, not every one. According to this spreadsheet prepared by Taxpayers for Common Sense, the spending bill incorporates 53 ideas put forth by McConnell himself in the form of legislative earmarks. Far from lowering the spending bill's cost, they increased it by $76 million.


Compared with his fellow Republicans, McConnell is a relative piker. Here is a list of the Senate's 10 biggest earmark hogs, based on dollar amounts in the spending bill:

1. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.: $474 million
2. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.: $391 million
3. Mary Landrieu, D-La.: $332 million
4. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa: $292 million
5. David Vitter, R-La.: $249 million
6. Christopher Bond, R-Mo.: $248 million
7. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.: $235 million
8. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii: $225 million
9. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.: $219 million
10. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa: $199 million


No fewer than six out of these 10 senators are Republicans, including the two top earmark hogs, Cochran and Wicker. Cochran, Wicker, Bond, and Shelby at least had the decency to vote for the bill after they stuffed it with earmarks. Vitter and Grassley followed McConnell's hypocritical lead, inserting earmarks but then voting against the final bill, knowing it would pass anyway. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), who because of a legal dispute over election results doesn't even have a Senate seat and isn't likely to recover it in court, nonetheless managed to rank in the top third of earmark hogs with a haul of $109 million. His Democratic opponent and the likely victor, Al Franken, got none.

Remember this next time you hear Republicans piss and moan about Democrats' spendthrift ways.

which bolsters the fact that they are all on the take, which continues to confuse Americans to the fact we are screwed as long as we keep these aholes in. obama will do nothing that he said/wanted to because he can't. the continued bashing of dems vs. gop is want they want and what we do, look how much gets changed....zippo. i'm not sure what can be done at this point with this governmental run away train built to destroy the middle class, but as long as we keep blaming one side or the other the train stays on the tracks.

So basically, half of a list of ten are Republicans. No news here.

We're well aware that Republicans have earmarks up the wazoo as well. The difference being: They're not in control of the house, senate, or White House right now.

At some point liberals need to stop blaming the last administration and take responsibility for their administration.

Look at the bailout: Almost (if not every) Republican voted against it. Are you for it?

Bush is gone. You can't cry about Iraq or Afghanistan or Republicans anymore. It's a liberal administration, a liberal house, a liberal senate, a liberal congress...

Liberals are making the bed now...and we ALL have to sleep in it.

Yup, third party needed...