According to a report published today by The Hill, a Capitol Hill Newspaper, presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has requested nearly $2.3 billion in federal earmarks for 2009. That is almost three times the largest amount any Senator has received in 2008.
The amount requested by Clinton for 2009 far surpasses the $387 million secured by Senator Thad Cochran in 2008 (R-MS). As the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Cochran was the leading recipient of earmarks last year.
Clinton’s opponent Barack Obama and presumptive Republican nominee John McCain both have made it clear that they would not be requesting any earmarks in 2009.
And yes, Senator Clinton did vote in favor of Senator DeMint’s (R-S.C.) earmark moratorium, along with Senators Obama and McCain.