Statement By Dr. Eric Wargotz Regarding Senator Mikulski's Pork Barrel Spending as reported in the Balt. Sun

"The Baltimore Sun reported that Maryland's senior U. S. senator won $10.5 million in federal pork barrel spending for three of her most generous campaign contributors.

"During a time of budgetary crisis in Washington, it is irresponsible for Senator Mikulski to use her powerful position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to enrich her campaign supporters. Further, I find it appalling that she would hide behind the troops to justify her actions.

"The Pentagon didn't ask for any of the funding requests (totaling $42.1 million, including the $10.5 million already referenced) the senator received. If Senator Mikulski thinks she knows better than the military does, she owes it to her constituents to explain why.

"Senator Mikulski should eschew the politics of the past and devote her energies towards participating in the healthcare debate raging on Capitol Hill. Despite more than three decades of involvement in this issue, she has been oddly absent now that the debate is here.

"Maryland's taxpayers deserve Senator Mikulski's advocacy more than her campaign contributors do."