Pelosi Uses Panic to Pass Pork

U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) expressed disappointment that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used the focus on the financial crisis to pass billions of dollars on thousands of new earmarks included in the continuing resolution (CR), which funds the government through March of next year.

The $16.1 billion for 2,627 earmarks in the CR is nearly double the cost of pet projects in the same bills from last year, and almost four times the level the President said he would except.

"As politicians tell Americans our nation faces a financial crisis, the earmark business on Capitol Hill is booming," said Senator DeMint.

“Congress has the lowest approval rating in history, and it’s well-earned. Washington seems to have no time to lower taxes or reform government, but plenty of time to bail out Wall Street and mortgage our nation's future with pork barrel spending."