Report: Mikulski Added Big Grants To Top Donors

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A newspaper is reporting that Sen. Barbara Mikulski put tens of millions of dollars in earmarked grants into a defense spending bill that includes money for top donors to her campaign.

The Baltimore Sun reported Friday that all but one of Mikulski's 16 funding requests were approved. Of the $42 million total, about $10.5 million goes to three companies, Northrup Grumman, Thrales Communications and L-3 Communications, who have been big contributors to Mikulski, who is running for re-election.

The Maryland Democrat, however, told The Sun that the campaign contributions have no impact on her decisions. She said in a statement that her top priority is to ensure that Americans serving on the front lines have the funding, equipment and technology they need to protect the nation.