Requests for the use of Senate appropriations are beginning to appear

Six Republicans on the spending panel have not yet called for local projects, including Senate minority leader Kentuckys Mitch McConnell and a once prolific earmarker, as well as Florida’s Marco Rubio, who will face a potentially tough swing-state re-election battle next year.

One notable Republican who asked for eartags is South Dakotas John Thune, the No. 2 GOP senator and McConnell’s top vote counter. Thunes ’only request at this point is $ 21.9 million for a Bureau of Reclamation project in Tea, SD, to build new water lines and increase the number of communities serving its home state and neighboring Iowa and Minnesota.

On the democratic side, only two senators have not yet made requests: Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, who is considered one of the most vulnerable established actors on her corridor side, and Montanas Jon Tester, senior Democrat in the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. will not accept earmarking requests this year.

One endorsement panel Democrat to which party leaders must pay particular attention is West Virginia Joe Manchin III, whose independent line in the 50-50 chamber represents a large part of President Joe Bidens ’agenda.

Manchin has so far submitted requests for both agricultural and energy water bills; the largest is nearly $ 12.9 million for the improvement of rainwater systems in the city of Rainelle, W.Va.