Going for the low hanging fruit first (earmarks in EarmarkWatch.org). So let’s look at the $141,000 that the Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile, Ala., got in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Act.

The school–a public, residential school for sophomores through seniors who are gifted in science and math–employed Capitol Link, a lobbying firm, from 2004 through 2007. During that time, there was no six-month period in which the school paid the firm more than $10,000, so it’s impossible to tell from the disclosures how much the school spent on lobbying. It is possible to say that the firm lobbied on H.R. 3043 — the Labor, HHS, Education appropriations — by clicking to page two of this disclosure form.

Hopping over to OpenSecrets.org’s donor lookup page, I found no contributions from employees who listed their employer as the Alabama School of Math and Science. Running “Capitol Link” in the occupation box, however, turns up $7,700 in contributions from David Staton, the Capitol Link lobbyist and former member of Congress who represented the Alabama School of Math and Science, and Lynn Staton, over a period starting on June 20, 2002, through December 31, 2007.

Again, not a staggering amount of money, but that’s two earmarks that went to clients of lobbyists who’d contributed to Bonner’s campaigns.

More later…