There have been demonstrations against our government almost since its beginning. ...more

December 12, 2009

There are lots of bridges to cross and roads to travel for lawmakers bent on ending the time-honored practice of funneling money to their home states: at least 6,800 of them. It's as if the outcry over pet projects in big spending bills - commonly known as "earmarks" - never occurred. ...more

May 21, 2009

WASHINGTON - Acknowledging it's an "imperfect" bill, President Barack Obama said Wednesday he will accept a $410 billion spending package that includes billions in earmarks like those he promised to curb in last year's campaign. But he insisted the bill must signal an "end to the old way of doing business." ...more

March 11, 2009

The U.S. Senate gave final approval Tuesday to a huge spending bill that also relaxes travel restrictions to Cuba and could usher in more trade with the communist nation after decades of strict embargoes. ...more

March 11, 2009

Congress is sending President Barack Obama a massive bill funding domestic programs and awarding lawmakers their cherished pet projects after more than a week of partisan debate. ...more

March 10, 2009

Members of both parties Monday voted to keep their cherished home-state projects as the Senate resumed debate on a spending bill covering foreign aid and domestic agency budgets. By a 63-32 vote, lawmakers rejected a bid by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to effectively strip about 8,000 of those earmarks from the $410 billion measure. ...more

March 9, 2009

When it comes to earmarks, one man's pig stink is another man's bacon. No kidding. ...more

March 8, 2009

The Senate has put off until next week a final vote on a $410 billion catchall spending bill. ...more

March 5, 2009

President Barack Obama's former nominee to become commerce secretary, Sen. Judd Gregg, steered taxpayer money to his home state's redevelopment of a former Air Force base even as he and his brother engaged in real estate deals there, an Associated Press investigation found. ...more

February 27, 2009

House Democrats unveiled a $410 billion spending bill on Monday ...more

February 23, 2009