Governor Corbett is approving more than $48 million in grant money that was requested by state legislators before he took office according to Marc Levy of the AP. Corbett had pledged to end the grants also known as walking-around money or WAMS.
” Spokesman Steve Kratz tells The Associated Press that the Republican administration felt an obligation to approve some applications and had an obligation to approve others that had signed contracts. Kratz says no applications submitted after Corbett was sworn in Jan. 18 are being processed.”
The grants are very similar to federal earmarks where Congressmen request specific spending from the federal government. President Obama said in his state of the union address that he would veto any bills containing earmarks.