Specter admits inserting 13 provisions into spending bills

"Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) acknowledges inserting 13 provisions into spending bills that directed $48.7 million to clients of lobbyist Michael Herson of American Defense International. Herson is the husband of Specter aide Vicki Siegel Herson. A list of those clients, their lobbyists and the funds, known as "earmarks:"

•Drexel University got $20.9 million in the 2005 and 2006 budgets. Drexel paid ADI $200,000 a year since 2002. The university also paid another lobbying firm, American Continental Group, $120,000 a year during the same time. A third company, the lobbying and law firm Hogan & Hartson, was paid $40,000 in 2004 and another $40,000 in the first half of 2005.

•Gentex Corp. got $11.2 million in the past four years. Gentex paid ADI $80,000 a year from 2002 through 2004 and $20,000 during the first six months of 2005. Gentex also paid the lobbying firm PMA $400,000 between 2002 and July 2005.

•Gestalt LLC got $10.6 million in 2005 and in this year's budget. Gestalt paid ADI $360,000 from 2002 through the first half of 2005. No other lobbyists registered to represent Gestalt.

•Power+Energy Corp. got $2.5 million in the 2006 budget. Power+Energy hired ADI in March and paid the firm $40,000 through the end of June. No other lobbyists registered to represent the company.

•Universal Space Network got $2.5 million in 2005. USN paid ADI $40,000 a year in 2002 and '03.

•3e Technologies International Inc. got $1 million in the 2006 budget. 3e hired ADI in March and paid $40,000 through July. 3e also hired Edington, Peel & Associates last year and paid that lobbying firm $20,000 through July."

Not good. Not good at all. How are these things allowed to happen? And what's with all the Republican scandals lately. I have a feeling this sort of thing goes on on both sides of the aisle, yet you recently only hear about the republicans. Could it be that the Republicans really are the only corrupt party? My instinct tells me no, but what do I know. Let's hear it liberals, let the republican bashing begin!