Washington – Representative Jo Bonner of Mobile was named Thursday to the House Appropriations Committee. That gives Alabama even more clout on the panel that writes spending bills in Congress and steers money to local projects.
Bonner, a Republican, beat out several colleagues from other states. Alabama Representatives Bud Cramer and Robert Aderholt already sit on the influential committee. Senator Richard Shelby is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Alabama has regularly ranked near the top in per capita spending from so-called earmarks, money inserted in spending bills by individual lawmakers for local pet projects.
That control is one of the main perks of the Appropriations Committee. But earmarks have come under increased scrutiny in recent months.
Bonner said he supports Republican leaders' calls for a moratorium on earmarks until the process is reformed. But he stopped short of saying that he would forego requesting earmarks if that does not happen, as some members have pledged.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)