OK, WTF Happened Here?

Representative Boozman originally asked for $3 million when the bill was in committee. Representative Young, for some reason, jacked it up to $37 million. AP (03.25.05):

"The U.S. House has approved a federal highway bill that includes $37 million for widening and extending the Bentonville street that provides the main access to the headquarters of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The company says it asked U.S. Rep. John Boozman (R - AR3), to help get federal money for the proposed project. U.S. Rep. Don Young (R - AK), added an amendment that put the work into the $284 billion bill, which is now before the Senate." Transportation Bill Has $37 Million for Wal-Mart Headquarters Street

"Young, chairman of the committee, inserted new allocations for hundreds of projects around the nation the day before the House passed the $284 billion bill March 10. The Bentonville project was among the late additions." By golly, wouldn't ya know it? Wal-Mart donated $10,000 to Representative Young in 2004. Even Boozman was surprised. A spokesman for him said, "'It was very unexpected on our end. It's rare that you get full funding.'" Wal-Mart donated $26,000 to Representative Boozman.