Readers of the BABlog are no doubt familiar with this post.The Vitter ID earmark passed the senate despite our best efforts. Here is the actual senate record:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquer...el=TOC_850002&

It's a sad day in Louisiana.

It doesn't even look like it went to a vote for rejection from what I can tell

Which part are we looking at?

Look for the Fund for the improvement of education, then scroll down until you reach a list of projects sponsored by senators, scroll to the right and look for the names of the senators rather than the name of the project. Look for Vitter in the amount of $100,000. The name of the project is

"Louisiana Family Forum, Baton Rouge, LA, to develop a plan to promote better science education"

An easier method is to just use your browser to find instances of "Vitter" or "Louisiana Family Forum, Baton Rouge, LA, to develop a plan to promote better science education ".

Is this earmark just meant for the poor slobs living in LA? I'd presume so, given the piddling amount of $$ involved.

Not to worry everybody--my family has lived in LA for at least a century-and-a-half now, and it is well-known that a good portion of any Federal dollars provided for any cause will go towards lining some state official's pockets rather than towards the cause originally intended.

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The dose makes the poison--Paracelsus (1493-1541) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracelsus

I don't know. That's why I'm asking--Noclevername

Intelligence may not be clearly defined, but you know stupid when you see it--Noclevername

Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge--Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

Actually, the money goes straight to these people.

These people are the Louisiana Family Forum, who state the following as their core principles:

I call attention to the fact that this is a religious organization, specifically a Christian organization.

So much for the separation of church and state.

Not to worry, angrynight. Given the corruption that typically exists in these types of organizations (does anyone remember Jim Bakker and PTL??), this money will still probably go into lining someone's pockets.

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The dose makes the poison--Paracelsus (1493-1541) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracelsus

I don't know. That's why I'm asking--Noclevername

Intelligence may not be clearly defined, but you know stupid when you see it--Noclevername

Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge--Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

Why is that of such little comfort?

Weirdly, I thought I'd tried that.

But now I'm glad I found the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation, Austin, Texas, for the Presidential timeline project for $900,000, thanks to Harkin.

Honestly,

Did you really think it wouldn't pass? Regardless of the party, these people protect each other and each other's pet projects. The only way things will ever change is to elimimate the earmarks and through the bums out of office.

Vitter earmark withdrawn

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Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.

Good! Though I'm curious who it will go to now:

If they had left it alone, I wouldn't be surprised if it would go to the courts. They don't want to have a court battle over that little amount of money.

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"If you think the LHC will create black holes, you might as well believe Hobbits are at the bottom of your garden."- Dr. Mike Inglis
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"Carl Sagan sent a message to ET,
Neil Armstrong walked in the Sea of Tranquility
Steve Squyers built Spirit and Opportunity
Dan Haylen upchucked in zero gravity." -Brent Simon, The Space Camp Song

Victory! Well, either I read the bill wrong, or this is a recent development. This just leaves me more puzzled on whether or not I was looking in the right place.

I guess failure really is an option. ;-)

__________________
"If you think the LHC will create black holes, you might as well believe Hobbits are at the bottom of your garden."- Dr. Mike Inglis
Rovers forever! - ToSeek
"Carl Sagan sent a message to ET,
Neil Armstrong walked in the Sea of Tranquility
Steve Squyers built Spirit and Opportunity
Dan Haylen upchucked in zero gravity." -Brent Simon, The Space Camp Song