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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Congress' use of budget earmarks often justified but 'messy' 6/8/08 • Rep. Rick Larsen open on his earmark requests 6/8/08 • Pork barrel hard to banish 6/8/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, June 8, 2008 What 10 earmarks brought to Washington state Herald staff Washington lawmakers, individually and collectively, obtain dozens of earmarks each year. Below are 10 selected randomly from press releases issued by Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Reps. Rick Larsen and Jay Inslee. Planes $504,210 to the Advanced Manufacturing in Materials Innovation Center at Edmonds Community College for testing and training workers who will handle composites used in the making of Boeing's new 787. Trains $19.6 million to Sound Transit for design work and land purchases for a future extension of light rail from downtown Seattle to the University of Washington. Automobiles $647,000 to the state Department of Transportation for rumble strips, guard rails and turn lanes on U.S. 2 between Snohomish and Skykomish, one of the deadliest stretches of highway in the state. Drugs $714,000 to establish the National Methamphetamine Training and Technical Assistance Center in Tacoma as the nation's principal facility for training, education, prevention and treatment resources. National parks $1,181,180 to the National Park Service to enlarge Mount Rainier National Park by acquiring 200 acres encompassing a portion of the Carbon River. Wine industry $237,327 to the state's Wine Grape Foundation for research into how to limit the damage caused by viruses in vineyards. Potato crop $1,104,216 to Washington State University for developing new varieties of potatoes that provide greater yields, better nutrition and are more disease-resistant. Interplanetary travel $1 million to Washington State University for studying the creation of new fuels for space travel through the High Energy Matter Space Propulsion Initiative. Military equipment $2 million to Outdoor Research in Seattle for development of a U.S. Army Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) Hand Protection, also known as a glove soldiers can wear in all battlefield and weather conditions. Military training $10,940,000 to the U.S. Navy to develop the Fleet Regional Readiness Center at Naval Station Everett where sailors can carry out required training sessions that currently require out-of-state travel.

1. Gay marriage issue can wait, say Referendum 71 partisans 2. Six injured, three critically, in wreck near Machias 3. Forecast for 2010 housing market: slow decline 4. First-time homebuyer credit invites tax cheats 5. That's Stud Muffin to you 6. Offensive line helps Marysville-Pilchuck rush into state playoffs 7. Glacier Peak freshman overcomes jitters to win state in cross country 8. Proud union member and veteran had a wild side 9. Snohomish County's former sanitation director claims his ouster was forced 10. More snow expected for Cascades, mountain passes 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

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