Political science 101:

Get a good position on the appropriations committee and spread earmark money for all sorts of defense projects around so much that you get into the top ten list and you’ll get lots of people contributing money to your re-election campaign.  Of course, I can’t complain if some of those funds are going to military projects.  (In the interests of full disclosure, I am biased because I have relatives who work for the military-industrial complex).

Reports Krystin E. Kasak for the Northwest Indiana Times:

In Indiana, Rep. Pete Visclosky is currently the leading fundraiser, having collected almost $1 million. According to campaign finance reports, his challenger, Mark J. Leyva, has raised just less than $1,500. In the 2006 election, Visclosky raised $1.37 million, compared to Leyva’s $10,940.

With the election still months away, Visclosky is on track for his fifth consecutive increase in donations. According to some experts, one of the major factors for these increases is Visclosky’s position in Washington, including his seat on the Appropriations Committee.

“Given that the Democrats now hold the majority in the House and that the Appropriations Committee is one of the three most important House committees, it wouldn’t be surprising that Rep. Visclosky would be the target of a lot of interested money,” said Marjorie Hershey, professor of political science at Indiana University.

Technorati Tags: earmarks, Rep. Pete Visclosky

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