Stimulus Spending Spawns Requests

President Obama and congressional Democrats have defended the $787 billion stimulus package against accusations of pork-barrel spending by saying the bill did not direct money to projects requested by members of Congress. Still, that hasn't stopped lawmakers from working behind the scenes to try to influence how the money is spent, according to agency records. Dozens of members of Congress from both parties have called, written or e-mailed agencies urging them to fund projects in their districts or states. Among the projects supported by members of Congress that have been funded: $116 million for a federal courthouse in Austin; $35 million to $60 million for toxic waste cleanups in Massachusetts and Colorado; and $5 million for the removal of pine trees killed by bark beetles in Colorado, records show.