September 15, 2000

Pork Spending in West Virginia

To the Editor:

According to Jeffrey Brainard and Ron Southwick's article about pork-barrel education spending, my state of West Virginia is No. 5 on the list of states receiving money ("Congress Gives Colleges a Billion-Dollar Bonanza," July 28). This is no doubt thanks to Sen. Robert C. Byrd, who is described in the article as "a Democrat who is legendary for his ability to procure funds for his home state."

The way the article is written, Byrd's ability -- or, more