Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon scored a few earmarks in the omnibus spending bill the President Obama signed Wednesday. April Baer reports.

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley believe their constituents will see at least $250 million dollars in project funding.

The strength of the Democratic bench in the Oregon Congressional delegation has translated into cash for a new I-5 bridge, school equipment for the flood-plagued Vernonia district, and several river dredging projects, among other things.

Pushing back at critics of earmarks, Congressman Earl Blumenauer says there's nothing sneaky about his process.

Earl Blumenauer   "I'm proud of what we've done, these came from Oregonians with good ideas -- I put them on a website. In fact we're just now posting new requests Oregonians have made for next year."

Blumenauer says he welcomes the President's call for more scrutiny of earmarks in the next spending bill.

Republican Congressman Greg Walden voted against the bill, when it passed the House last month.