The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "earmarks" ...
-
Earmarks To Nowhere
Just when you thought you had read every outrageous story about congressional pork, last year USA TODAY revealed $13 billion in "orphan earmarks"- highway spending directed to pet projects but never spent. For states, this uncooked pork came at a tremendous cost: almost $7.5 billion of the earmarked money was taken directly out of the state's direct highway funding- meaning states literally lost billions they could have spent to improve or build bridges and highways.
Tags: pork barreling; earmarks; highway; money; orphan earmarks
-
Earmarks to Nowhere
USA Today revealed $13 million in "orphan earmarks" in highway spending director to pet projects but never spent. In reaction, Congress demanded an accounting of the earmarks from the Obama Administration, and members of both parties quickly introduced bills to clean up the practice and require public disclosure unspent funds.
Tags: orphan earmarks; Congress
-
"Stimulating Hypocrisy"
This report investigates the 2010 "Pledge to America" campaign waged by Republicans. As many Republicans were labeling the stimulus plan as wasteful, a series of letters obtained by the Center for Public Integrity revealed that these were the "same lawmakers requesting stimulus funds for their pet projects."
Tags: Congress; Pledge for America; stimulus; Republicans; pet projects; earmarks
-
"Barnegat Bay Under Stress"
This series of stories investigates the gradual demise of Barnegat Bay, the "largest coastal estuary" in New Jersey. Reporters found that thousands of pounds of fertilizer and other "land-borne pollution" is flowing into the bay. The investigative series resulted in Gov. Chris Christie shutting down a nearby nuclear power plant and earmarking millions of dollars for "special environmental control funding."
Tags: Gov. Chris Christie; pollution; wildlife; stormwater; Oyster Creek; nuclear power plant; estuary; fertilizer; jellyfish; Ocean Gate; Toms River; EPA
-
Follow the Money: Congress & TARP Oversight
This series of watchdog stories look at spending in Congress and use of TARP funds. They used FOIA requests to gain access to TARP contracts and called into questions some questionable charitable work, sweetheart deals, financial disclosures, fund-raising, earmarks and more.
Tags: TARP; congress; oversight; economy; earmarks; Recovery Act; FOIA
-
Secret Deadly Earmarks
Congressman Duke Cunningham was bribed with a yacht, antiques, and campaign contributions from a company owner seeking a government contract to fight roadside bombs in Iraq. Major Eric Egland was assigned to discover why troop deaths were increasing from roadside bombs despite the millions being paid, and in his search he came across "classified" information revealing the truth behind the contract.
Tags: lobbying; military; whistleblower; IEd; American soldiers; MZM; Mitchell Wade;
-
The Earmark Nobody Wanted
Alaska Congressman Don Young committed $10 million of taxpayer funds to aid a highway project in South Florida, over 5,000 miles away. Young had a personal and financial relationship with a landowner who would have gained from the highway's construction.
Tags: I-75; Coconut Road; FBI investigation; Bonita Springs;
-
Follow the Money
This is an extensive series conducted to examine questionable earmarks on many levels. The story covers money trails from the Presidential election to wasted medical drugs that are (literally) being flushed down the toilet.
Tags: lobbying; public waste; banking bailout; Presidential election; whistle blower; Qui Tam; Medicaid; NASA
-
The Favor Factory
The Seattle Times analyzed the 2008 defense bill and found that lawmakers - who had promised full disclosure of earmarks - were hiding $3.5 billion of them, about 40 percent of total earmarks. Some of the most prominent and powerful members of Congress used loopholes in a new reform measure to avoid disclosure.
Tags: defense bill; lawmakers; legislature; earmarks; vetting earmarks; campaign donors; campaign scam; wasteful earmarks; chemical-warfare decontamination kit; inferior products; Capitol Hill; Congressional favors; campaign donations
-
An Offramp to Nowhere
The Omaha developer Seldin Co. won $4 million in federal earmarks for an interstate interchange between Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, but was found to have lobbied for the interchange where Seldin owns 935 acres of land.
Tags: Lobbyist; Nebraska Department of Roads; Metropolitan Area Planning; Sarpy County; Pflug Road;