Here’s one reason why Rep. Obey’s amendment to eliminate all the earmarks in the Labor/HHS bill failed last night. Actually here are 1,342 reasons worth $523 million (HOUSE LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION BILL TOPS 1,300 EARMARKS) why the amendment failed, if you get my drift. They are going to have to marry that with the 1,038 earmarks worth $562.9 the Senate has in their bill. At that rate, it is going to be hard to cut the total earmarks in half by the final bill.

If you’re into planes, this bill has you covered. $350,000 – Aerospace Museum of California Foundation, (http://aerospacemuseumofcalifornia.org/about.html) McClellan, CA for exhibits requested by Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) or $300,000 – American Airpower Museum, (http://www.americanairpowermuseum.com/Website/Education.html) Farmingdale, NY for exhibits and education programs requested by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) or $150,000 – College Park Aviation Museum, (http://www.pgparks.com/places/historic/cpam/) College Park, MD for exhibits and educational programs requested by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) or $350,000 – Museum of Aviation Foundation, (http://www.museumofaviation.org/home.htm) Warner Robins, GA for education programs requested by Rep, Jim Marshall (D-GA).

In fact, this bill should be the Labor-HHS-Entertainment bill with Jazz, movies, theaters, museums, dance, aquariums, you name it, you got it.