I really don't like earmarks. They don't help democracy. They help incumbents stay in office. Mitch McConnell seems to be in a little hot water over one of his earmarks. Now, I guess that you could label earmarks into 3 categories - bad, worse and awful. I think that pushing for a defense contractor is bad. Pushing for an overseas (British) contractor is worse. Trying to get a $25 million project to a company that is under investigation by the Justice Department is awful, isn't it?

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From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is pushing $25 million in earmarked federal funds for a British defense contractor that is under criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and suspected by American diplomats of a "longstanding, widespread pattern of bribery allegations."

McConnell tucked money for three weapons projects for BAE Systems into the defense appropriations bill, which the Senate approved Oct. 3. The Defense Department failed to include the money in its own budget request, which required McConnell to intercede, said BAE spokeswoman Susan Lenover. (more...)