North Dakota Ranks Second in Earmarks

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A government watchdog group says North Dakota

ranks second among states in federal earmark dollars per capita,

behind Hawaii.

"Earmark" is the term for home-state projects sought by

lawmakers. Taxpayers for Common Sense attributes North Dakota's

high ranking in fiscal year 2010 to the level of influence its

three-member Democratic congressional delegation wields.

That could change after Sen. Byron Dorgan retires at the end of

his current term. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations

Subcommittee for Water and Energy Development he has secured

millions of dollars for state projects.

Dorgan says the term "earmark" sometimes is given to money

owed to the state under federal agreements, such as in flood

protection projects. He says the dollars are important investments.

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