Reid uses Wells’ earthquake as an example of good earmarks can do

WASHINGTON -- Citing the Feb. 21 earthquake in Wells, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Tuesday defended earmarks which authorize federal spending on local projects.

The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 6.45, caused about $1 million in damage to the small Nevada town near the Utah border.

"I think (Wells) is a perfect place to go for congressionally directed spending, to help the little town of Wells re-establish their business community," Reid said.

Unless damage amounts to $2.5 million, the Federal Emergency Management Agency would "just walk away from it," Reid said.

Reid, who has trumpeted the federal money he has steered toward Nevada during his 21-year career in the Senate, said "congressionally directed money" has been "going on in this country for 230 some odd years."

"The Founding Fathers wanted us to have control of the spending," Reid said.

A freeze on earmarks, Reid said, would stand on its head what the Founding Fathers wanted to do.

"I can't help the people of Wells?" Reid asked rhetorically.

Although Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois have endorsed a moratorium on earmarks, Reid announced Monday he would vote against it.

Reid said Congress passed an ethics reform law last year that requires the disclosure of senators who request earmarks and other details.

"To just carte blanche say no more earmarks is unrealistic," Reid said.

Reid made the comments during a weekly news conference.

Reid also was asked whether it was appropriate for Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, to make a taxpayer-funded trip next week to the Middle East with Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Joseph Lieberman, an independent Democrat from Connecticut.

Reid deflected the question, saying each senator would have to make his own decision.

"People have asked me why I haven't been back to Iraq," Reid said.

Reid's only trip to Iraq occurred in March 2005 when he was still the Senate minority leader.

In an interview during his trip, Reid said he knew he was in a war zone but he still was surprised that so many people were walking around with guns.

"When I went there to Iraq, I just felt that people trying to protect me should have been protecting other people," Reid said Tuesday.

"I'm more focused on the (eight American) soldiers killed yesterday, the $12 billion that we're spending every year, $420 million we're spending every day," he said.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau reporter Tony Batt at tbatt@stephensmedia.com or (202) 783-1760.