Stimulus has $30M to save Pelosi's harvest mouse

House Republicans are challenging Speaker Nancy Pelosi's claim that the massive stimulus spending bill contains no pet projects after uncovering in the bill more than $30 million for wetlands conservation in her San Francisco Bay area district, including work she previously championed to protect the salt marsh harvest mouse.

"This sounds like spending projects that have been supported by a certain powerful Democrat in the past,"

said Michael Steel, spokesman for House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican.

"It certainly doesn't sound like it will create or save American jobs," ...

"So can Speaker Pelosi explain exactly how we will improve the American economy by helping the adorable little critter?"

A spokesman for Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, said the claim was "fabricated" by Republicans.

[Ah, the Republicans put it in the bill.]

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