The Swine Line

Carper, Biden agree to disclose earmark requests earlier

Sens. Joe Biden and Tom Carper said Friday they will disclose all of their requests for special funding projects known as earmarks, marking a shift in policy for both senators and a move toward greater transparency in the budget process.

…Republican Rep. Mike Castle announced his intention in November to release his requests. They will be posted on his Web site Thursday. The senators said they would release theirs later this year. Appropriations deadlines for Senate requests started Friday and run through late April.

…While the senators will release requests for fiscal 2009, their staffs said they would not release what was requested in fiscal 2008. Castle’s office said he requested $196 million.

“It would be nice to have had a benchmark from last year to know whether they are requesting more or less,” said Leslie Paige, spokeswoman for Citizens Against Government Waste.