Cochran, Wicker rank high among porkers

Tue, March 03, 2009 - 5:07 PM

Mississippi has earned a dubious distinction from the group Taxpayers for Common Sense.

The state’s two Republican senators – Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker – are rated the worst by the group for earmarks in the omnibus bill currently being debated by the Senate.

The omnibus combines nine 2009 appropriations bills into one. In all, the group found $7.7 billion in earmark spending in the bill.

According to TCS, Cochran was able to get in 65 earmarks in the bill for a total of $76 million. In all though, Cochran’s name was attached to 204 earmarks that included other members of Congress.

Wicker wasn’t as successful earmarking funds on his own and was able to get nine earmarks into the bill for a total of $4 million. But he joined with other members of Congress to support 143 earmarks for projects totaling $391 million.

-- Amy Dominello