10.24.2006

Arlen Making a Specter of Himself?

As reported by Roll Call noted at TPM Muckraker:

"Facing an FBI investigation of his top staff and scrutiny of his own financial records, Sen. Arlen Specter [R-PA] said he currently is weighing 'the pros and cons' of whether to eliminate earmarks entirely from the annual Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and related agencies spending measure.

"Specter, whose staffers are being investigated for allegedly improperly securing earmarks for businesses owned by their family members, currently chairs the Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the bill. He said in a recent interview that he plans to talk to his fellow Senators about the idea of ridding the measure of targeted spending provisions but has yet to reach a final determination." (Roll Call)