Inland delegation nails its share of earmarks
By BEN GOAD/Washington Bureau
Congressional earmarking is alive and well, and Inland Southern California's delegation is doing its share to keep it that way.
Led by Rep. Jerry Lewis, the five representatives whose districts cover most of the region have attached more than $180 million this year to spending bills to pay for more than 100 projects, primarily in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, a Press-Enterprise analysis shows.
Recent congressional scandals have cast a dark cloud over the federal spending process, and the mere mention of earmarks is bound to elicit scowls from some lawmakers and members of the public alike.
The term, taken from the 16th-century custom of marking one's cattle and sheep by cutting their ears, refers to the modern-day practice of attaching funding requests for specific projects to massive spending bills.
Negative connotations and increased scrutiny stem most notably from the conviction of former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham who traded earmarks for bribes and is now in prison. That and other allegations of misconduct have prompted calls from Republicans and Democrats to reign in the process.
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