Obama Silent On Spending As State Senator

(AP)  Sen. Barack Obama is open about the pet projects he's tucked into federal legislation, but it's a different story when it comes to the extra spending he added to state budgets while serving in the Illinois Legislature.

Public records reveal some of the projects he sponsored as a state senator, from literacy programs and park improvements to drill team uniforms and jazz-appreciation events. They add up to more than $6 million.

But that covers just two of Obama's nearly eight years in the Illinois Senate.

While silent about Obama's spending in Illinois, his campaign has criticized Democratic presidential rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for withholding similar information about her years in the U.S. Senate.

Obama communications director Robert Gibbs said Thursday that her position should prompt voters to "ask why she doesn't believe they have the right to know she wants to spend their tax dollars."

Since entering the U.S. Senate and launching his presidential campaign, Obama has made a political issue of openness.

He voluntarily discloses the "earmarks" he adds to the federal budget; Clinton does not. He initially released only one year's worth of earmark information, but on Thursday he released his requests for the 2005 and 2006 federal budget years, too.

"I have been consistently in favor of more disclosure around earmarks," Obama said in a debate last month. "Now, keep in mind a lot of these are worthy projects in our states ... but I want to make sure that they're not done in the dark of night."

That disclosure, however, so far applies only to federal spending.

When Obama served in the state Legislature, from 1997 until late 2004, it was routine for money to be added to the annual budget for lawmakers to dole out. In most years, this was done without any public record of which legislator was sponsoring which grant, leaving no way to tell how Obama used his share of the money.

But for a couple of years, the state did link lawmakers and grants.

Records from that period show Obama sponsored a little more than $6 million in projects.

Of that, $2 million went to the Chicago Park District for projects ranging from adding or expanding parks to repairing fountains to building a running track.

Chicago schools got grants of $5,000 and $10,000 to buy computers, improve security systems or offer new programs. The transportation department got $200,000 for new stoplights.

Private organizations got money, too.

Neighborhood groups in the South Side district he represented were given grants, typically $15,000 or $20,000, for such projects as senior centers, park improvements and teen mentoring programs.

Obama was one of several lawmakers to direct money to the South Shore Drill Team, which tries to keep poor children away from drugs and gangs by involving them in dance and music. Obama's grant to them was $25,000.

He also directed $100,000 to the Museum of Science and Industry for an exhibit on the nature of time, and provided two $5,000 grants for groups promoting jazz appreciation.

[fojohn]

CBS at least obama has showed some of his earmarks requested from him many he did voluntarily. He deserve credit for that. He is trying to become clean in all his financial affairs either when he was a senator or Illinois legislator. What about Clinton who has refused to make public know about her tax return and her earmarks.? Should she be on your headline.? It is fear if you want to dig dirt on him you do it on both of them. Doing so we know that you are not being bias.

[popstom1]

Obama Has missed the most votes of any democratic
presidential hopefull 80% of all votes he has not
done the first job why give him better job BYEBYE
OBAMA

[cattie1918]

Obama needs to demonstrate the transparency that he professes to believe in.

[blkpresident]

gunownerdan,

Your comment is absolutely right about the woman and the OLD man.

[gunownerdan]

Senator Obama, Senator McCain, Senator Clinton...
These dirty politicians should be rotting in jail not running for president!

[blkpresident]

Sorry to crush your pipe-dream, Hillary, about a woman becoming president. You''re next in line, OLD man McCain, to be steamrolled by the Obama shuffle. Scared yet OLD man?

[desertclair]

After listening to Obama%u2019s pastor preach against whites with incredible hatred %u2026 Have those drawn to Obama simply been duped?

I''m afraid so. Even Obama may not be conscious of the extent of his own racism. But the fact he %u201Cprojects%u201D the motivation of racism onto others like Bill, Hillary and Ferraro%u2014who have fought their entire political careers for racial equality%u2014is a sign that lurking in his heart might be racist points of view. How else could he feel comfortable sitting at the feet of this pastor?

There is no way Obama can win the general election against McCain with this kind of connection to racist views against whites. The Republicans will blow this up and scare everyone, since he has family members that are Muslim too.

The question I imagine they will ask people to consider is:

How can you trust him as President to represent all the people of this great nation, when he is comfortable listening to a preacher who teaches hatred against whites and has a basic anti-American sentiment?

[prinzowhales]

What Social Security Crisis? We are going to put all of Mexico under our Social Security System! It is their human right to our Social Security Program!! And be sure that all of those kiddies who are ''disabled'' by vaccinations and other mind destroying elements perfectly legal and even endorsed by the FDA, NIH and the AMA...get their disability checks! Remember! Under the Demopublican ''Free Market'', Merck rightfully profits from its murderous nostrums...and YOU pay the costs! That''s how it work...now get out there and vote Demopublican!

And Remember!...You are an evil racist if you build a wall to keep illegals out AND you are an evil racist if you oppose the building of a wall by the Israelis to keep Palestinians off of their lands!! Vote Demopublican!

[prinzowhales]

Want massive debt? Want War? Want Open Borders? Then you definitely want Obama, McCain or Clinton...Vote Once...Vote Twice...Or just let Diebold vote for you...but vote Demopublican!

[prinzowhales]

I really envy the Demopublicans--you''ve got three fine candidates...all support the war based on lies and its continuance...all of them support the racist regime in Tel Aviv that is outside all treaty obligations with regard to proliferation...all support the expansion of the Police State in the US... they want a renewal of the Cold War, Free Trade and Open Borders...Where else can Americans find such swell folks to vote for? Americans are right to support the Demopublican Party!