Alaska Lawmakers To Publicize Every Earmark

Citing a new era of "sunlight and transparency," Alaska's congressional delegation will begin disclosing every request from the state for specially earmarked federal money. A $20 million earmark sought by the Mat-Su Borough for a ferry project? A $15 million allocation for dredging in the Port of Anchorage? $1.6 million for National Weather Service data buoys in Alaska?

Each request for money will now be listed on the individual Web sites of the state's two senators and one congressman.

"We just need to provide that visibility to the voters of Alaska," said Mike Anderson, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Don Young.

Sen. Ted Stevens, a Republcian and the top appropriator who pulled down nearly a half-billion dollars in earmarks last year, has never been that shy about disclosing how much he landed for his home state.

Neither has Republican U.S. Rep. Don Young, who famously bragged about stuffing a spending bill like a turkey.

But full disclosure of who's actually asking for the money is relatively new, although not unique to the Alaska delegation.

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