David Cherry

It is nothing new to stretch the truth when running a campaign. However, Sheldon Adelson's right-wing group Freedom's Watch is running a robocall campaign against U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) that is so far from the truth that it deserves a post of its own.

Freedom's Watch has a call that hits Berkley for not supporting the troops. The truth on this issue is that Berkley has proactive and steadfast in her support of Nevada's troops time after time.

LAS VEGAS-Nevada's congressional delegation may be small, but it is energetic in bringing home the bacon to a cash-strapped state with a lot of needs. But critics are quick to label the programs that legislators steer towards their constituents as "pork projects."

According to the Citizens Against Government Waste 2008 Congressional Pig Book, Nevada's delegation has brought $158,779,895 worth of pork-barrel spending to the state in the 2008 fiscal year, fifteenth highest according to the per capita rankings.

According to the CAGW, Sen. Harry Reid leads the delegation with $259.5 million dollars in "wasteful spending." Next comes Sen. John Ensign with $92.5 million, Rep. Shelley Berkley with $46.7 million, Rep. Dean Heller with $31.8 and finally Rep. Jon Porter with $19 million. Much of that money, particularly in Reid's case, however, goes to defense or other spending that is not necessarily directed at Nevada.