By Mitch Perry and Carla Alonso
Tampa area Democrat Kathy Castor has requested more than $147 million for projects in next year's federal budget, including $12.8 million for the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, $15 million for Hillsborough County to stabilize Egmont Key from further degradation, and $15 million to the Manatee County Port Authority for reimbursement of an extension of the Port. The projects are known as earmarks, which Castor and many of of her fellow lawmakers request annually, though only in recent years have such requests been made out in the open.
However, this year, only House Democrats are making such requests. In March, House Republicans pledged to forgo earmarks to highlight their commitment to reducing federal spending (which is why there are no requests to report from Pinellas Congressman C.W. Bill Young, who traditionally has taken pride in bringing home the bacon for the citizens of District 10).
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2010.
