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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It's "all or nothing" when it comes to Utah congressmen and earmarks. One congressman asks for nothing while another asks for billions.
Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, has requested $6.5 billion worth of earmarks. Ninety-five percent are for past campaign donors.
He tells the Deseret News he passes along just about every request made of him.
He told the paper, "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, who is on the House Armed Services Committee, gets a lot of campaign donations and earmark requests from defense contractors and a lot of requests for expensive weapons systems.
On the other end of the spectrum is Utah's newest congressman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, who campaigned against earmarks and has asked for none in 2010.
Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, requested about $56 million worth. Only 3.5 percent are for campaign donors.
Rep. Bishop talked with Grant and Amanda on Utah's Morning News. To hear the interview, play the audio on this page.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
