Ellington

Millions are headed to Mississippi from the federal omnibus bill signed by President Barack Obama yesterday, reports MSN Money.

The money is part of the regular federal budget and separate from the federal stimulus package that also is expected to bring $2.8 billion to the state.

"With these funds we will be able to continue the important work of improving our state's infrastructure, enhancing quality of health care and education and creating an environment to attract new businesses," said U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., the ranking Republican on the Senate appropriations committee.

The largest project is new construction on the federal prison in Yazoo City: $205 million. On its heels is $61 billion for Mississippi River levees and $31.5 million for the petroleum reserve site in Richton, MSN reports.

Highlights from the spending bill provided by Cochran's office include:

* $3.1 million for construction of a poultry science research facility at Mississippi State.
* $6.5 million for construction of the Mississippi biotechnology research park at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
* $1.5 million to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies to complete construction of a facility focusing on rehabilitation, conservation and education regarding marine mammals.
* $10.4 million to the Sustainable Energy Research Center at Mississippi State.
* $20.8 million to construct mooring cells for barges along the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway.
* $2.8 million to revitalize Capitol Street in Jackson.
* $10 million for the port of Gulfport.
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Taxpayers for Common Sense estimates that both Cochran and Mississippi's other senator, Roger Wicker, sit atop the heap when it comes to earmarks, the controversial practice of steering money to pet projects.

The group says Cochran is the congressional champion with $437.7 million in earmarks brought to the state both alone and in combination with lawmakers from other states. Wicker is No. 2 on the list at $391 million.

Mississippi is third overall in earmarks, the group's research shows, with a total of $325 million, a figure that doesn't include multistate funding.