January 31, 2007 4:35 PM
- Text
Katie Couric's Notebook: Now Ear This
Hi, everyone.
This week the new Congress offers its plan to fund the government for the next eight months.
What's missing from the Democrats' spending bills? Earmarks.
No...not what happens when your clip-ons are too tight. But hidden earmarks: money that slips through Congress at the last minute to benefit one district or special interest.
It was almost two years ago that the idea for a $223 million "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska -- connecting a town of 8900 to an island with 50 residents -- sparked national outrage, and signaled the beginning of the end of the Republican Congress.
But are Democrats over-correcting?
They say that earmarks will be allowed again next year, but under much stricter rules. This year, however, some Congressmen complain that worthy projects--like gang prevention funding--are getting lumped together with waste.
Maybe when it comes to earmarks, politicians are tone deaf.
That's a page from my notebook.
Video: This week the new Congress offers its plan to fund the government for the next eight months.
What's missing from the Democrats' spending bills? Earmarks.
No...not what happens when your clip-ons are too tight. But hidden earmarks: money that slips through Congress at the last minute to benefit one district or special interest.
It was almost two years ago that the idea for a $223 million "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska -- connecting a town of 8900 to an island with 50 residents -- sparked national outrage, and signaled the beginning of the end of the Republican Congress.
But are Democrats over-correcting?
They say that earmarks will be allowed again next year, but under much stricter rules. This year, however, some Congressmen complain that worthy projects--like gang prevention funding--are getting lumped together with waste.
Maybe when it comes to earmarks, politicians are tone deaf.
That's a page from my notebook.
Latest Now in CBS Evening News
- Evening News Online, 02.10.12
- Diplomat: U.S. military not the answer in Syria
- On the Road: Noah's Dream Catcher Network
- Salvaging the Costa Concordia
- Bank deal won't protect federal mortgages
- Ambassador Ford on military help in Syria
- Rare moment of relief in Syria
- Romney touts conservatism at CPAC
- Obama's contraceptive compromise
- American company may salvage Costa Concordia
- A small taste of freedom in one part of Syria
- 12-year-old saves grandma's home from foreclosure
- Evening News Online, 02.09.12
- One mortgage mess culprit: Signature mills
- Remembering Kodak cameras
- Obama frees 10 states from "No Child Left Behind"
- Assad continues relentless attack on Homs
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Lawsuit filed over Jesus statue on public land
- Pa. church official wants new judge, alleges bias
- Court says Lee Grace Dougherty has plea deal
- Officer in WA accused of stealing from family fund
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Josh Powell had "incestuous" images on his home computer, authorities say
on CBS News
