Rohrabacher claims that earmark will bring jobs

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is trumpeting a $3.9 million earmark he has inserted into a defense bill passed by Congress last week, which would bring a major airplane construction project to the state. It’s the largest earmark attached to the bill, according to Rohrabacher’s staff.

The earmark requests 15 more Boeing C-17 cargo planes, used in everything from military actions to disaster relief.

According to Rohrabacher’s office, building C-17 planes brings 10,000 jobs to the state and 5,000 to a facility in Long Beach, part of Rohrabacher’s congressional district.

Rohrabacher said in a statement that he complied with all ethics guidelines to report earmarks.

“I have no trouble justifying my full support of this project, which is so important to the national security of our country,” he said. “The C-17 is one of the best investments we can make with our limited tax dollars.”

— Michael Alexander