Audio By Carbonatix
If you don’t like the $1.2 million in earmarks shoved into a Congressional spending bill headed for a vote in the U.S. Senate, it may be tough to get ahold of the man responsible: Indicted Former Congressman Rick Renzi. USA Today reports that Renzi is one of several former lawmakers who tucked 458 pet projects into a bill that’s said to be needed to keep the government running through September. Renzi’s projects include a drug enforcement program in Pinal County and road and bridge construction.
Shamed former Senator Larry Craig of Idaho, infamously caught propositioning an undercover officer in an airport restroom, also managed to get a million bucks worth of earmarks in the bill.
Most of the pork-shoveling former lawmakers were Republican, naturally, considering the left-leaning results of the last election. But at least one former Democrat Congresswoman, Hilda Solis (above), was on the list. She’s President Obama’s Labor Secretary.
When news happens, Phoenix New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
