Page 2 - Earmark Spending News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

We had the majority in the house, the senate, and we also have the white house. at that time, i think we did a lot of things that we should not have. we really kind of threw away the matter of fiscal conservatism. we spent like drunken sailors. earmark spending, all of the obscene things that we do, and we were thrown out of the majority in 2006, and both the house and the senate, and we lost the presidency in 2008. >> dana: you said that you regret your vote in 2008 during the financial crisis. speak out right. i think there was a financial crisis that certainly we had to play the ball where ...

>> sure, my office sends tens of thousands of letters to federal engages agencies. i take full responsibility for it. this doesn't change the fact that stimulus was a bomb. >> reporter: one of the things, in the past particularly when related to earmark spending, republicans say i'm opposed to earmarks but if congress give earmarks to other states, i want to make sure that my state gets some, too. he wasn't in support of stimulus funds. he didn't recognize that was happening in his office. last week we talked about foreign policy. 42-year-old is avowed numbers nerd that spends most of his time...

the watch dog groups citizens against government waste. what are those dirty spots? something about them is endearing but not endearing about lawmakers. we got the numbers for fiscal year 2012 so we brought some of these friends along from the farm. probably better than a lot of things they usually eat. the good news first, pork is down. since the big push to ban ear marks we have seen a big improvement on capitol hill. some good news. earmark spending down 80% from two years ago. that year there were more than 9,000 earmarks which cost $16. billion. the buffet tax would have raised ...

the pig -- i mean, they will eat anything, won't they? they are sort of cute but they're pigs and the watch dog group citizens against government waste, sorry, i mean, what are those little spirit i spots? something is en dearing but it is not about lawmakers. we brought some of these little friends along from the farm. better than a lot of things they usually eat, isn't it? the good news first. pork is down. since the big push by lawmakers to ban earmarks and appropriations bills we have seen an improvement in capitol hill and don't say that often. we want to emphasize good news and...

Gregg: new details of wasteful government spending known as pork. the annual release of the congressional pig book. it details all the earmark spending in washington and the total cost of this year's pet projects $3.3 billion, that is way down. in 2006 congress spent $29 billion on earmarks. john fund senior editor of the american spectator, author of stealing elections. john, i thought congress put a complete moratorium on earmarks. why are there 3.3 billion? >> reporter: these aren't called earmarks. earmarks are down 98%. the tea party can take an awful lot of credit for that because the 20...