Bush has his own special projects

President Bush often denounces the propensity of Congress to earmark money for pet projects. But in his new budget, he has requested money for thousands of similar projects.

Among his requests:

• $330 million to fight the emerald ash borer, light brown apple moth and sirex woodwasp.

• $1.5 million for a waterway named in honor of former Sen. J. Bennett Johnston, D-La.

• $12 million for a parachute repair shop at the American air base in Aviano, Italy.

• $6.5 million for research in Wyoming on the "fundamental properties of asphalt."

• $3 million for a Minnesota forest conservation project.

The White House contends that when the president requests money for a particular project, it has gone through a rigorous review -- by a government agency, the White House or both. Sean Kevelighan, a spokesman for the White House Office of Management and Budget, said: "The administration's budget proposals are available for any taxpayer to see. We submit a justification for each item. That's very different from what happens on Capitol Hill, where items are dropped into legislation at the last minute, for no rhyme or reason other than the seniority of a member of Congress."

Some of Bush's proposals were similar or identical to ones he has derided as "special interest items" that waste taxpayer money and undermine trust in government. For example, Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., obtained an earmark of $1.5 million last year to deal with the emerald ash borer. Bush now wants more money to fight that insect. Bush also is requesting money for a water project near the Nueces River in South Texas, which benefited from a bipartisan congressional earmark last year.

Congressional leaders plan to focus more closely on these items. "The executive branch should be held accountable for its own earmark practices," said the House Republican leader, Rep. John Boehner.

NEW YORK TIMES