McCain Transportation Earmark Redirection Soundly Defeated

President Obama's campaign promise to veto appropriations bills coming to him with earmarks will be tested this month. Today the Senate defeated by a vote of 68-26 an amendment to the FY 2010 Transportation-HUD appropriations measure which would have stricken $1.7 billion in earmarks for construction projects favored by Senators within their individual states, in favor of spending the cash on modernization of the civil air traffic control system in the U.S. Complaining that 1 civilian flight in 4 in this country is delayed, McCain claims that air travel improvements are perpetually underfunded by Congress in favor of individual Senators' pet local projects. Senate Appropriations Transportation-HUD Subcommittee Chairman Patty Murray points out that the earmarks total less than 1% of the appropriation, and are 50% less than last year.