The Magic Earmarks Theory

Apparently earmarks just somehow went through the spouse of one of his chief legislative aides, nearly $50 million worth.

Ever since the Warren Commission Arlen has done one thing repeatedly. Whether its running for reelection in a "blue state" or getting a little cash for his assistants lobbyist husband:

Back, and to the left... back, and to the left... back, and to the left.

Specter, R-Pa., used a process called "earmarking" 13 times to set aside $48.7 million for six clients represented by lobbyist Michael Herson and the firm he co-founded, American Defense International. The clients paid Herson's firm nearly $1.5 million in fees since 2002, federal lobbying records show.

Herson's wife, Vicki Siegel Herson, is Specter's legislative assistant for appropriations. She deals with Specter's work on the Senate Appropriations Committee and its defense subcommittee, where all the earmarks originated. Siegel, who uses her maiden name at work, is a former lobbyist for defense contractors who has worked for Specter since 1999.

Nice deal they've got going there. Slime pays all around.