Senator Seeks Expiration for Highway 'Earmarks'

Pennsylvania Democrat's bill would return earmark funds older than three years to state control

Senator Bob Casey wants to put an expiration date on unspent highway "earmarks." The Pennsylvania Democrat's proposal would fix "orphan earmarks," which happen when money Congress sets aside for pet projects doesn't get spent.

"Earmarks can be controversial enough without the added controversy of having money sit around so long not doing anything," Casey said Monday.

He introduced two bills last week: the Redistribution of Unspent Earmarks Act and the Use It or Lose It Act. Together, they would mandate that earmarks older than three years be returned to the states to use on any eligible highway project. (More at USAToday.com . . . )

 

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