Remember the cry of the Democrats during the 2006 elections regarding Republican spending? For the record, I believe Republicans DO spend like crazy, but are Democrats any better? In 2006, they made a promise they would clean up the spending mess we’re currently in.

Take a look at this gem. The “Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007” is supposed to prohibit Congress adding earmarks in to conference reports. Yet, if you look at the pending Labor/Health & Human Services bill you’ll find some interesting items.

1. South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD for the Thomas Daschle Center for Public Service and Representative Democracy
Sponsor: Sens. Byrd, Reid, Johnson, Harkin
Amount: $1,000,000

2. National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO for facilities and equipment.
Sponsors: Sens. Salazar and Allard
Amount: $500,000

3. George Washington University, Washington, DC for health professions training for students from the District of Columbia.
Sponsors: Sen. Hatch, Rep. Eleanor Norton
Amount: $316,700

4. University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT for the Health Sciences LEAP Program to expand the pipeline of underrepresented students in health professions.
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch
Amount: $84,750

5. Lowell Community Health Center, Lowell, MA for facilities and equipment.
Sponsor: Rep. Danny Davis (IL)
Amount: $400,000

6. Center for Working Families, Long Beach, CA, for job training and placement in demand industries.
Sponsor: Rep. Laura Richardson
Amount: $140,000

7. Compton Careerlink, Compton, CA, for job training and placement in demand industries.
Sponsor: Rep. Laura Richardson
Amount: $200,000

8. Watts Labor Community Action Committee, Los Angeles, CA for job training and placement in demand industries.
Sponsor: Rep. Laura Richardson
Amount: $200,000

9. YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, CA for a project providing coordinated assistance to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Sponsor: Rep. Laura Richardson
Amount: $100,000

For a bill that us supposed to improve healthcare and help the children, I can’t for the life of me figure out why we would send $1,000,000 to the Thomas Daschle Center for Public Service and Representative Democracy.

Just sayin’…