From Deseret News:
95% of his requests are for past donors to his campaigns
By Lee Davidson
Published: Monday, April 13, 2009 8:48 p.m. MDTUtah’s three U.S. House members have completely different philosophies about requesting “earmarks” that order federal agencies to fund specific projects they like.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, requested none for upcoming 2010 appropriations bills, and he campaigned against earmarks. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, requested relatively few (totaling $56 million), and only 3.5 percent were for campaign donors. But Rep. Rob Bishop requested $6.5 billion worth, and 95 percent are for past campaign donors.
He requests so much, in part, because he passes along virtually all requests made to him. “My concept is basically that if an earmark is asked of us, and it appears to be for a legitimate project, we pass it on — because appropriators have to look at it and make that call (on whether it is funded) anyway,” Bishop said.
Comments on: "Utah Congressman Rob Bishop Is King of Earmarks" (1)
[...] nomination (although I think a good conservative opponent could give him a run for his money, given Bishop’s billions of dollars of earmark requests for his campaign donors). Bishop will then cruise to another victory over Democrat Morgan [...]