Alaska ranks first in pork-barrel spending

WASHINGTON, March 22 (UPI) -- Alaska ranks top among all U.S. states in so-called pork-barrel spending, while Arizona is at the bottom, an academic researcher says.

James Thurber, who heads American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, says the fact that Alaska received $346 million in earmarks, compared to Arizona's $119 million, is due to its representatives in Washington, the Gannett News Service reported in USA Today's Saturday edition.

"When you have reformers and purists, you end up not getting a reasonable share of money coming out, which hurts the state," Thurber said. "When you're holier than thou, you don't get much of the money."

Data indicate Alaska received $506.34 per capita this fiscal year while Arizona only received $18.70 per capita.

Earmarks have become a major concern in the political world after numerous reports linking corruption and over-spending to the funding process.

U.S. lawmakers secured more than $18 billion in federal funding for an estimated 13,000 projects in 2007.