The $8 billion cost of the earmarks is a rounding error in a $1.1 trillion spending bill.

The real outrage is that any earmarks exist AT ALL.

Without them, a lot more senators and representatives would be voting against this monstrosity and it would fail passage. The stock market would take a temporary dive, and companies would not resume hiring - which they won't do anyway even if this does pass - and on January 5, congress would pass a much better spending bill with a lower death tax rate, income taxes at level they've been for everyone for the last ten years, and no extension of unemployment benefits.

Kill this thing. The stock market will recover; it always does.

Without passing on the individual merit of the Agro-defense Facility, perhaps less government regulation of agriculture and more variety-diversity in corn and other plantings by farmers would help as much as another federal lab.

Personal Victory Gardens and heirloom seed-sharing are practical and fun, too. Heirloom gardening (you can buy interesting seeds online) supports the best kind of small business.

My back yard is already 'planted out.' I wonder if the local 'grass Nazis' will allow onions, peas and carrots in the front yard? We'll see. It's worth a try.

The Port of Anchorage is the most active port in the U.S. state of Alaska, through which 95% of all (non-petroleum) cargo in and out of Alaska passes.

The Port serves 80 percent of Alaska's population and 90 percent of the consumer goods of Alaska. The Port is the major gateway for Alaska's water-borne commerce and a vital element of the regional economy. In terms of economic impact, the Port generates more than $750 million each year.

The Port's steady growth in the past decade is expected to continue into the future. To keep pace with the future trends in the shipping industry and to better serve its existing clients, the Port needs to be prepared to accommodate larger ships, with deeper drafts, and wider beams. Addressing the needs of Alaska's smaller coastal communities, the Port also needs to develop new barge berths and transshipment areas to improve the flow of goods to rural Alaska. And finally, the Port plans to improve and expand its cruise ship facilities.

Intermodal Expansion of the Port will:

* Stimulate local and regional economies
* Accommodate larger container and cruise ships, barges, and tankers
* Support new military requirements
* Enhance intermodal (rail, road, and marine) transportation systems
* Serve a wider range of users

more info: External Link 

Republicans are adamantly opposed to extending unemployment benefits that will be pumped right into the economy while helping the unemployed. Yet they stand up for the heirs of millionaires who neglected to do any estate planning by railing against the 'Paris Hilton Tax'. That the Dems can't score political points on this says a lot about their message problems.

Bioblogger, If this is a valid requirement and was funded in previous budgets, then there is no need for it to be be a pork project. This program obviously has proven to be nothing more than a pork barrel project that has outlived it's merits.

Elisa, how much of Alaska's oil money could they have used to pay for this? For every Dollar that Alaska pays in taxes to the Federal Government they get back $1.65 so maybe they could have put some of that money towards expanding the port.

All of this is PORK. The National Bio and Agri-Defense facility should have never ever ever been taken off Plum Island. I am so glad the University of Missouri did not get this facility. Why on earth would any one want to move this facility from a very secure site to the heartland I will never know. As for the development of the Port of Alaska, may I ask how that taxpayer funded project will benefit me here in the heartland? Pork is Pork is Pork. None of this should be funded by the federal government. As far as I am concerned the states should fund these projects if they are that vital.