Earmarks Live On

So much for getting rid of earmarks.....

The Omnibus Spending Bill for 2009 was passed this week with approximately 9,000 earmarks costing all of us $7.7 billion. Included were earmarks from former Senators Obama, Clinton and former Representative Rahm Emanuel. Just a sampling of the earmarks:

• $2.2 million to study grape genetics,
  
• $1.8 million for swine odor and manure management,
  
• $1.7 million for a honey bee laboratory,

Yes, these are small amounts compared to the rest of government spending, but it does add up.

(Earmarks are where spending items are added to a bill to fund specific projects, typically for the legislator's constituency or special interest group.)