Pork is healthy at alma maters

Senators have earmarked more than $40 million for health care projects at college and university systems they attended — more than one-fifth of all money being sought through a special federal program to help the country’s uninsured, records show.

Records also show that the average grant to the senators’ schools was more than three times the average amount of money given to other schools under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) program, where increasing earmarks have attracted concern from federal officials and government watchdogs.

Leslie K. Paige, spokeswoman for the D.C.-based Citizens Against Government Waste, said the earmark process is flawed because of a lack of competitive bidding for project money.

“There’s no way of knowing whether they deserve it,” she said. “There’s no level playing field.”

In one of the largest Senate earmarks through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Sen. Robert C. Byrd, West Virginia Democrat, wants $3.6 million to build an “allied health technology tower” at the 4,422-student Mountain State University, which the Democrat attended when it was Beckley College, Senate records show.

Mr. Byrd, well-known for bringing pork-barrel projects to his home state, also is requesting more than $6 million for three projects at Marshall University in West Virginia, another school he attended.

Senators said they gave no special consideration to the schools when earmarking HRSA funds.

“Senator Byrd’s dedication to boosting medical education opportunities in West Virginia cannot be overlooked,” said Jenny Thalheimer, spokeswoman for Mr. Byrd. “Because of Senator Byrd’s help, there are now a multitude of health care programs available at universities in the Mountain State.”

“Senator Byrd believes that more educational opportunities in the health care field will help promote a stronger and healthier work force, and provide training for West Virginians to fill the void of health care professionals that is currently plaguing the nation,” she said.

The earmarks to Marshall include $1,575,000 for a virtual-colonoscopy outreach program, $1,575,000 for a bioengineering institute and $3,250,000 for construction of a patient care and clinical training site.

The funds were earmarked by senators through HRSA, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, with the role of improving access to health services to the uninsured, isolated and medically vulnerable.

Earmarks are a way for members of Congress to send federal money for specific projects. But a recent program assessment by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Management and Budget has raised questions about past years’ congressional HRSA earmarks, which more than doubled from 451 projects in 2003 to 932 in 2005.

“Earmarked projects often serve local interests and do not fulfill national priorities or needs,” the assessment stated. “Earmarks do not necessarily reflect a community’s most pressing needs.”

“The HRSA earmarks awarded to universities or other research institutions are not based on scientific merit or any competitive process.”

The Washington Times reviewed the 401 HRSA earmarks requested by senators for specific projects. The proposed 2008 earmarks are worth $191.2 million, of which more than $42 million is for college and university systems that the senators attended.

On the House side, lawmakers have made 560 earmark requests worth almost $128 million. In addition, two Senate earmarks worth more than $64 million are requested by Republican Sens. Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Ted Stevens of Alaska for more general health initiatives and construction in their home states.

The senators who set aside funds for their college and university systems usually also directed money to other health research projects in their home states. And in several cases, the colleges or universities benefiting were among the largest research institutions in their respective states.

But records also show that, on average, the senators’ schools fared better than other institutions, thanks largely to several high-priced earmarks.

Overall, the average Senate HRSA earmark was worth less than $500,000, documents show. But the 25 earmarks by senators to their old schools had an average worth of almost $1.7 million.

The largest Senate earmark through HRSA provides $11 million for the University of Alabama. Requested by Republican Sen. Richard C. Shelby, a 1957 graduate of the university, the earmark provides “construction, renovation and equipment” for a new health services building.

“Senator Shelby has a strong reputation for helping colleges and university throughout Alabama receive federal funding,” spokeswoman Laura Henderson said in a statement that also quoted her boss as saying that HRSA funds will ensure health care access for children and the elderly in rural parts of the state, “particularly in the event of an emergency.”

Mr. Cochran also requested five HRSA earmarks for the University of Mississippi, its medical center and pharmacy school, totaling more than $10 million.

Margaret McPhillips, a spokeswoman for Mr. Cochran, said the University of Mississippi Medical Center is the only institution of its kind in the state.

“Senator Cochran has an extensive track record of being extremely supportive of all of Mississippi’s colleges and universities,” she said.

“Senator Cochran is one of two senators for Mississippi, so it stands to reason that he would support health care research and education in the state,” she said. “It’s a pretty hard stretch to suggest he supports UMMC because he went to the University of Mississippi.”

Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota requested $2 million for the University of South Dakota for medical equipment. Mr. Johnson’s spokeswoman, Julianne Fisher, said the funding provides much-needed money for the only medical school in the state.

“In a state like South Dakota, having doctors educated at home and a strong desire to stay in rural communities is very important,” she said.