Friday, January 9, 2009: One year ago, Expos�?© brought you "Mr. Heath Goes to Washington," about Seattle Times reporter David Heath's investigation of pork barrel politics. In the follow-up episode "Promises, Promises," Heath and colleague Christine Willmsen return to find -- despite the pledges made by a new Congress, calls for reform and a new law -- when it comes to pet spending projects, it's still politics as usual in Washington. This time the reporters unearthed at least 155 hidden earmarks worth $3.5 billion in the 2008 defense bill and found that in many cases, earmarks are actually more secretive than they once were.

Read Heath's original and expanded reporting. Look up the defense bill earmarks your own representative has sponsored, or browse earmark recipients - the individuals, companies, and institutions who get the federal dollars - in the paper's expanded database. Or listen to an interview with David Boardman, executive editor of The Seattle Times, on one of our Expos�?© Sessions, as he talks about what makes an investigative reporter, taking on the sacred cows of the Pacific Northwest, and the future of the newspaper business. And if you've got a question or a comment for David Heath of The Seattle Times, click over to the Blog on the Bill Moyers Journal website and fire away.
 

• email
• RSS