Congress breaks pledge to public and passes $8.5 billion in earmarks in defense bill

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From: NewsTrust

Despite reforms, Congress hides $3.5B in defense earmarks

October 13, 2008
Submitted by Dwight Rousu

Seattle Times - by David Heath, Christine Willmsen - Oct. 12, 2008 (Investigative Report)
time after time, Congress exploited loopholes or violated those rules, a Seattle Times investigation has found. An in-depth examination of the 2008 defense bill found $8.5 billion in earmarks. Of those, 40 percent — $3.5 billion — were hidden.

And Congress broke its pledge — and President Bush's challenge — to cut earmarks in half.

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