Pork

Below are some of the earmarks that persuaded some Senators to vote for a $700 billion package (thanks NY Post).  

This bill has an unprecedented  cost and is seen as having such a huge impact - positive or negative- on the US.  Still, some Senators either voted for a bill - thinking it would cost us $700B and not really help the economy - in order to get their funding, or they believed the bill was necessary to save our economy, but still demanded extra monies to secure their vote.  I would have liked to have seen some Senators  (e.g. McCain) refuse to vote for bill as long as it contained ANY earmarks.  After all - wouldn't President McCain be forced to VETO this bill to keep his campaign promises, due to the pork?

* Manufacturers of kids' wooden arrows - $6 million.

* Puerto Rican and Virgin Is- lands rum producers - $192 million.

* Wool research.

* Auto-racing tracks - $128 million.

* Corporations operating in American Samoa - $33 million.

* Small- to medium-budget film and television productions - $10 million.

* A $223 million package of tax benefits for fishermen and others whose livelihoods suffered as a result of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill