$300,000 for the pollinetian society in hawaii. $163,000 for maple syrup research in vermont. other examples are $6 million for rural iowa school named after harkin. others were set aside for non-profits connected to lawmakers who recently died, ted kennedy and john murtha. many of the $8 million in earmarks requested over the years by members of both parties and dumbed on the senate in the omnibus bill. some republicans said they will vote against the bill even though it has money they once requested. i intend to vote against the earmarks because i think the american people sent message on november 2, saying they want a new way to operate in washington. reporter: some defended the earmarks, such as for swine or animal waste management as part of a search for alternative to not foul the air for whole communities.
it s $1.1 trillion in this bill. but what hasn t been said by senators mcconnell and kyl is that s the amount they asked for. reporter: but the number of earmarks from republicans and democrats which one long-time opponent told fox he is determined to stop. 6 thundershower 6,883. one is $300,000 for the polynesian voyaging society in hawaii. $175,000 for maple syrup research in vermont. reporter: some can be legitimate spending needs. but republicans make the issue different not that law makingers are proposing spending. it s that such proposals should
the american people said just 42 days ago, enough. are we tone deaf? are we stricken with amnesia? what is going on here? reporter: the bill includes $80 million for restoration of pacific coastal salmon. some of it for landlocked nevada, which hasn t seen wild salmon since the 1930s. $300,000 for the polynesian voyaging society in hawaii. $235,000 for noxious weed management in nevada. $165,000 for maple syrup research in vermont. republican senators john thune and john cornyn railed against the pork spending. the bill s loaded up with pork projects and it shouldn t get a vote. i think it demonstrates profound disrespect for the american people. reporter: but both senators have inserted tens of millions of dollars of their own earmarks in the bill, including thune s request for $8 million for b-1 bomber fleet maintenance, and cornyn s request for $1.6 million for the texas army
in hawaii, $165,000 for maple syrup research in vermont. many earmarks can be ridiculous examples of pork, but some can be perfectly legitimate spending needs. just as you were mentioning about the border. but when all are thrown into a massive bill and tended to be rushed through in three days, lawmakers don t have time to separate the worthy projects from the greasiest examples of pork. the key is to judge them openly on their merits and not rush them through and some members of congress suggest if they can t find ways to spend taxpayers money it would fall to the president and unelected bureaucrats. jenna: very interesting dynamics. thank you very much. rick ruck for more on the spending bill and the battle over earmarks, we re joined by senator charles grassley of iowa, ranking member of the senate finance committee. good to talk to you, senator. what s your vote going to be on this bill, sen snore. i m going to vote no, and
$300,000 for the pollinetian society in hawaii. $163,000 for maple syrup research in vermont. other examples are $6 million for rural iowa school named after harkin. others were set aside for non-profits connected to lawmakers who recently died, ted kennedy and john murtha. many of the $8 million in earmarks requested over the years by members of both parties and dumbed on the senate in the omnibus bill. some republicans said they will vote against the bill even though it has money they once requested. i intend to vote against the earmarks because i think the american people sent message on november 2, saying they want a new way to operate in washington. reporter: some defended the earmarks, such as for swine or animal waste management as part of a search for alternative to not foul the air for whole communities.