[ABFM] ABFM Member Jim Savage Quoted in New York Times

[Gerald J Miller]

See ABFM Member Jim Savage's comment on who gets what earmarks in the
federal budget in paragraph 9 below.  Congratulations Jim.

 

 

 <http://www.nytimes.com/> The New York Times

	

 

 

  _____  

March 24, 2008

Study Finds Record Education Earmarks 

By ALAN FINDER

 

Congress set aside a record $2.3 billion in pet projects for colleges and
universities last year for research on subjects like berries and reducing
odors from swine and poultry, according to an analysis by The Chronicle of
Higher Education to be published on Monday.

Despite recent calls in Congress for a moratorium on the home state
projects, known as earmarks, the sum was $300 million more than the last
time The Chronicle conducted its survey, in 2003, when the total was $2.01
billion. When the publication first analyzed earmarks in 1990, legislators
set aside $270 million for colleges and universities. 

Congress approved 2,306 earmarks last year for higher education, compared
with 223 in 1990, The Chronicle said.

The earmarks included several centers honoring legislators. Among these were
a $1.9 million grant to help create the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public
Service at City College of New York. Mr. Rangel, Democrat of New York and
the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sponsored the earmark.

The largest single earmark for higher education went to the University of
South Alabama, which received $30 million for an engineering and science
center. Senator Richard C. Shelby, Republican of Alabama, inserted the
earmark into legislation.

Mississippi State University got the most money over all, $43 million for
more than 30 projects. The University of Mississippi received $37 million
from 27 earmarks. Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi, the ranking
Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, was responsible for most
of those, according to The Chronicle's analysis.

While such pork-barrel projects range far beyond academia, they are
particularly controversial in higher education because they bypass the
normal route for financing peer-reviewed scientific research. Typically,
research proposals submitted to government entities like the National
Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation are selected after
intensive reviews by scientific panels and are based on broad national
priorities. 

Critics say that universities, by lobbying home-state legislators, can get
more money with less scrutiny. 

When it comes to earmarks, said James D. Savage, a professor of politics at
the University of Virginia, "those taxpayer dollars are allocated strictly
on the basis of the power and access of the legislators involved."

But many lawmakers defend the practice, saying it enables them to support
important local institutions and to encourage research that stimulates
economic development or to addresses other public needs in their states.

"If the federal government is going to explore particular research
initiatives," said Adam Telle, a spokesman for Mr. Cochran, "why shouldn't
small portions of that research be done in Mississippi, a place where it can
both serve the national interest and also generate real opportunity where
little may have existed before?"

All three presidential candidates - Senator John McCain of Arizona, the
presumptive Republican nominee, and his prospective Democratic rivals,
Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois -
have said they would support a moratorium on earmarks. But the Senate
rejected the idea on March 13, falling 31 votes short of the 60 needed to
overcome a procedural hurdle.

Mr. McCain, who has criticized earmarks as wasteful, did not introduce any
last year. Mr. Obama obtained 10 earmarks worth a total of $19 million,
according to the analysis, and Mrs. Clinton was responsible for 21 earmarks
worth $70 million, the sixth-highest total in the Senate.

The Chronicle's research showed that many lawmakers were active last year
enthusiastically financing projects for colleges and universities in their
districts. Senator Ted Stevens, Republican of Alaska, created the earmark
for $968,000 in research on berries at the University of Alaska at
Fairbanks. Three Iowa lawmakers - Senator Charles E. Grassley, a Republican,
Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat, and Representative Tom Latham, a Republican
- sponsored a $196,000 item for research into ways to reduce odors from
swine and poultry. 

Mr. Cochran inserted a total of $162 million to colleges and universities in
his state. Mr. Shelby ranked second among members of Congress, with $86
million. Also active were Senator Pete V. Domenici, Republican of New
Mexico, who steered $81 million to higher education institutions in New
Mexico, and Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Democrat of North Dakota, who sent $74
million to colleges and universities in his state.

Mr. Rangel's $1.9 million earmark for the City College center that will bear
his name was among several "namesake projects" secured by committee chairmen
and ranking minority members.

The college has already raised $11 million for the center, which will house
Mr. Rangel's papers and a conference center for programs to encourage
minority students to pursue careers in public service. The center will also
be linked with new undergraduate and graduate majors in public
administration.

An aide, Elbert Garcia, said Mr. Rangel was not available for comment late
last week because he was recovering from an illness. Mr. Garcia pointed to a
recent statement by Mr. Rangel about the center: "No matter how one feels
about the role of government, it is clear that the future of our democracy
lies in having the most talented people across all classes and racial groups
to participate in public life." 

 

 

 

Gerald J. Miller

615 East Portland Street #124

Phoenix, Arizona 85004

602-253-2216

Alternative - gerald.j.miller at asu.edu

 

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