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Titus discloses earmark requests early

Lawmaker becomes first to show which projects she wants funded




WASHINGTON -- Rep. Dina Titus on Friday became the first Nevada lawmaker to disclose ahead of time what local projects she will try to earmark into federal spending bills this year.

A list posted to the Las Vegas Democrat's Web site contains descriptions of 40 Southern Nevada projects totaling close to $100 million.


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  • As debate has intensified over how members of Congress direct federal spending back to their districts through earmarks in bills, the House and Senate appropriations committees in January issued new guidelines for House members and senators seeking special funding.

    They include requiring lawmakers to post information on their Web sites detailing all their requests at the time they are submitted to the committee. Further, the disclosure "must include the purpose of the earmark and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds."

    The deadline for submitting earmark requests falls over the weekend, noted Titus spokesman Andrew Stoddard. Titus posted to her Web site what she said was her entire wish list "in order to increase transparency and openness in the funding process."

    Titus further said she is only requesting earmarks for public institutions and nonprofits in Southern Nevada, no private companies.

    Previously, earmarks were largely secret until the Appropriations Committee decided which ones to include in spending bills it would write over the summer. In that way, individual House members could announce the local projects that were funded, but it was rarely disclosed which projects were turned away.

    Titus was said to be traveling to Nevada on Friday evening and could not be reached for comment.

    The earmark list for Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., will be posted before the deadline, a spokesman said.

    Aides to Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., could not be reached Friday.

    The deadline for senators to forward their requests to the Senate Appropriations Committee is at the end of April, according to a spokesman for Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. Neither Ensign's office nor the office of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., had earmark lists available yet.

    Among the earmarks Titus said she is seeking:

    • $9.1 million in homeland security funds for the 92nd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team in Las Vegas.

    • $2.5 million to install a photovoltaic solar system at the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy.

    • $1 million to help Boulder City upgrade the Hemenway Valley wastewater treatment plant.

    • $5 million for bus lanes on Boulder Highway.

    • $4.25 million to continue the Nevada National Guard Counterdrug Program, and another $1.62 million to buy four "mobile command systems" for the Guard.

    Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@ stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.

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    Judy is the clown! wrote on April 04, 2009 07:31 PM: Me thinks "Judy" is the clown. I haven't seen any benefit from the fascist Democrats massive spending. What are they spending all that money on... certainly the little people don't benefit.


    Why not get rid of wage taxes? wrote on April 04, 2009 07:29 PM: If Titus had any balls at all she'd push to get rid of the most immoral tax of all, that is the wage tax. That is the only stimulus that will work. Free the people from government intrusion into their private lives, get rid of ridiculous tax laws that force the timid into signing forms against their will, let the wage earner keep their money to spend on their own families. We don't need no stinkin' government handouts. As Ronald Reagan, the greatest president of the 20th century said, "government is the problem." We need another Ronald Reagan to get this economy in order, after all he was educated with an degree in economics and his programs showed how getting government off peoples backs quickly got the economy roaring against after the Carter malaise. Obama/Soetoro is just another failed Carter administration.


    Judy wrote on April 04, 2009 06:52 PM: Dina Titus is doing more for Nevada already than the clown Gibbons did the entire time he was in DC. She is bringing money to Nevada for jobs.


    give $ to those who really need it wrote on April 04, 2009 03:41 PM: Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy is up to over 10 million in ear marks. Why do they get so much and so many other non-profits get 0? This school DOES NOT serve 'at risk' students .... ever drive by when school is about to let out? Nothing but Hummers, Jags and BMWs. Does that say 'at risk' to you?


    Bill wrote on April 04, 2009 03:09 PM: All of it we can do without... Thanks for voting this moron in, people.


    SamT wrote on April 04, 2009 02:39 PM: $5,000,000 for bus lanes?
    $2,500,000 for solar panels, for a school?

    Great work Dina! Sure is good to know we're getting our money's worth!


    greatjobinreturningtaxes wrote on April 04, 2009 01:40 PM: Good for Congresswoman Titus, returning fund to Clark County funds or taxes paid by the citizens of Clark County, now we can get a refund of the taxes we pay to the government.
    This is the right thing to do, at lease we can see where our tax funds are going. Back to the people who pay them.
    good for you Dina Titus


    SamT wrote on April 04, 2009 11:39 AM: @Mike26: Unfortunately, Titus' election is of little wonder, given the ridiculous assertion (by many voters) that they had little "choice" but to vote for Titus, as Porter was patently unacceptable. I wouldn't disagree with anti-Porter sentiment.


    There were other candidates, though, on the ballot. Independent candidates, not part of the two-party system, with refreshing ideas, humility and unblemished records.

    Voters should carefully consider whom they're electing and why.


    Mike26 wrote on April 04, 2009 10:23 AM: Still can't believe Dina Taxes won this election. sigh...


    Rasputin wrote on April 04, 2009 09:49 AM: It is continually amazing, to watch these elected officials lie to our faces, and not even break a blush.

    Titu$ says "she is only requesting earmarks for public institutions and nonprofits in Southern Nevada". Uh huh. How, exactly, does $2.5 million to install a photovoltaic solar system at the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy fall anywhere near the definition that Rep. Taxus gave?


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