Landrieu, Vitter Request Billions- "Largesse Benefits Louisiana"
by Jonathan Tilove - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., has requested $3.8 billion in earmarks in the 2010 federal budget, while Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has asked for $1.1 billion.

The requests run the gamut. On Landrieu's list there is $275 million for the Army Corps of Engineers for storm-proofing, particularly in St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. And there is $29 million for the Tangipahoa African-American Heritage Museum & Black Veterans Archives in Hammond to create a "Buffalo Soldiers Battle Monument and Veterans Memorial in New Orleans . . . dedicated to fallen African-American veterans in Louisiana."

By far the largest earmark on Vitter's list is $300 million for advanced procurement of the 11th LPD-17 warship being produced by Northrop Grumman at Avondale Shipyards. In its recent budget recommendation, the Obama administration provided $1.1 billion to complete work on the 10th LPD vessel while holding off on building the next ship, though it did project $150 million in advance procurement money for the 11th in the 2011 budget.

Both lists were heavy on Army corps and transportation infrastructure projects. In some cases, they overlapped with each other and with earmarks sought by members of the state's House delegation, including freshman Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao, R-New Orleans, who put in for $1.2 billion in earmarks last month.

LARGESSE BENEFITS LOUISIANA

The House earmarks were posted in April and the Senate earmarks were all due this week.

Landrieu's can be found at http://landrieu.senate.gov/appropriations/index.cfm.

Vitter's can be found at http://www.vitter.senate.gov/forms/Website%20Appropriations%20Spreadsheet7.pdf.