An Early Groundhog Day Means Six Weeks Without Congressional Spending -- But There's a Catch

Famed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil lobbied Capitol Hill to soften the uproar over his $100,000 federal grant from taxpayers. The furry rodent and his top-hatted, tuxedo-clad handler showed up for a photo-op at the Capitol.

A skeptical Rep Jeff Flake (R-AZ) put out a prepared statement saying Phil's visit to Washington could mean "six weeks without pork barrel spending in Congress," but "only because Congress will be out of session for the next six weeks or so."

The $100,000 dollar grant is for the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center -- a museum of the science and folklore of weather forecasting. (Knight Ridder)