Like all presidential candidates, Clinton places a premium on bundlers, people who use their networks of friends and associates to raise large sums of money. Clinton singles out people who raise $100,000 or more as "Hillraisers."
At least eight Hillraisers are affiliated with recipients of her earmarks. One is James Flaws, chief financial officer of one of New York's major employers, Corning Inc. Once heavy GOP donors, Corning employees have given Clinton $236,000 since 1999, including $106,000 for her presidential campaign.
"The system is broken," said lobbyist George Hochbrueckner, a Clinton backer and former New York congressman, who represents several companies that have received earmarks with Clinton's help. "Until it is fixed, you have got get good people elected and they've got to play by the rules. Right now the rules allow exactly what Hillary is doing."
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tom.hamburger@latimes.com
dan.morain@latimes.com
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Begin text of infobox
Following the pork
Among presidential candidates who are serving in the Senate, Hillary Rodham Clinton was the most frequent user of "earmarks," which enable lawmakers to bypass the budget process and insert narrowly drafted spending provisions into legislation to provide funding for a company, project or institution. The figures are for this year.
Sen. Hillary Clinton
Number of earmarks: 216
Amount (in millions): $236.6
Sen. Christopher Dodd
Number of earmarks: 73
Amount (in millions): $112.8*
Sen. Barack Obama
Number of earmarks: 49
Amount (in millions): $90.4
Sen. Joseph Biden
Number of earmarks: 64
Amount (in millions): $70.8
Sen. John McCain
Number of earmarks: 0
Amount (in millions): n/a
* Dodd's total does not include spending for submarine construction backed by senators from five states.
Note: Based on data from Taxpayers for Common Sense using 12 appropriations bills that passed the Senate this year. Not all bills have been completed and signed into law. Figures do not include appropriations requested by the Bush administration that received Senate approval.
Source: Taxpayers for Common Sense
