In the three years since federal earmarks have been required to be linked with legislators requesting them, the average Texas congressman has sponsored or co-sponsored nearly $74 million in special projects, according to an analysis of data from the Center for Responsive Politics and Taxpayers for Common Sense.

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Waco) is the most proficient earmarker, accounting for $378 million in pork for 201 projects in the budgets for fiscal years 2008, 2009 and 2010. Next is Rep. Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) with 92 earmarks totaling $185 million.

Rounding out the top five are Reps. Solomon P. Ortiz (D-Corpus Christi) with 69 earmarks for $152 million; Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, with 113 earmarks for $144 million; and John Culberson (R-Houston) with 65 earmarks for $128 million.

At the other end of the spectrum, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Dallas) has sponsored zero projects. Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-Carrolton) had five earmarks for $6.5 million in 2008 but abstained in 2009 and 2010.

Meanwhile, Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) requested 10 earmarks for $10.4 million in 2010 after not requesting any in 2008 or 2009. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) had four earmarks for $12.4 million, all in 2008. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tyler) had 27 earmarks total for $12.8 million (including 15 projects for $6.8 million in 2010 after taking a one-year break from earmarks in 2009).

In the upper chamber, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison sponsored 399 earmarks for $664 million, while U.S. Sen. John Cornyn had 219 earmarks for $416 million.

House and Senate members are currently in the process of requesting earmarks for the fiscal year 2011 budget. According to Taxpayers for Common Sense, House members are already requesting 545 earmarks totaling more than $684 million.

(Photo: Flickr Creative Commons/Kelley Mari)