by Frank James

The good-government group Taxpayers for Common Sense has been all over the Sen. Ted Stevens story and has been providing very useful information about his almost superhuman ability to bring home the bacon to Alaskans.

According to TCS, over the last four years, the freshly indicted senator has gotten or helped to obtain earmarks for $3.2 billion which translates to $4,872 for each Alaskan.

That compares with a $263 per capita national average. So Stevens, as an important member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has done a lot for Alaska and also the Defense Department, the other recipient of his earmarking largesse.

Thus, a lot of people stand to miss Stevens, whose ability to steer money has been greatly diminished if not completely hamstrung.

TCS provides an Excel spreadsheet that allows you to see the many earmarks.

And here's TCS's press release:

Taxpayers for Common Sense has released the last four years of earmark data for Alaska to help create an understanding of how powerful Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) has remained as an appropriator. The new research has found that Senator Stevens has secured or played a significant role in securing more than 891 earmarks worth $3.2 billion, which comes to $4,872 per capita over the last four years. This is more than 18 times the national average of $263 per capita for the same four years.

This number is higher than the numbers reported by others because TCS researchers have obtained the locations of many of the defense earmarks which typically are not disclosed.

While some might believe that Alaska will take a big hit in earmarks, it is likely that Senator Stevens' long shadow and close friendships, particularly with Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), will ensure Alaska continues to get more than its fair share.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/07/ted_stevens_pork...