Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released
the annual "Pig Book" which highlights the pork projects (earmarks) going around
in Congress.
$121,400,000 for 44 projects by House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman
John Murtha (D-Pa.), including $23,000,000 for the National Drug Intelligence
Center (NDIC). Rep. Murtha became infuriated by Rep. Mike Rogers’ (R-Mich.) motion to
remove the NDIC earmark. According to Rogers, Rep. Murtha warned, “I hope you
don’t have any earmarks in the defense appropriations bills because they are gone and
you will not get any earmarks now and forever. ... That’s the way I do it.”
$1,769,526 for five projects by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), including:
$1,117,125 for mormon crickets; $365,424 for the Nevada arid rangelands initiative; and
$36,741 for weed management.
The list goes on and on and on. It's truly depressing to see all the money spent on items,
research, and services that 1) the federal government has no business in, 2) that local
governments could do better, and 3) that private industry could fund for itself. Here are
some of CAGW's 2008 award winners:
The French Kiss Off Award to Representative Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) for $211,509 in olive
fruit fly research in Paris, France.
The Taxpayers Get Teed Off Award to House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) for $3
million for The First Tee in the defense appropriations bill.
The Cold Hard Cash Award to Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) for $165.7 million in defense
pork.
The Tax Dollars on Drugs Award to Representative John Murtha (D-Pa.) for $23 million for
the National Drug Intelligence Center.
The Pantheon of Pork Award to Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) for $386 million in pork.
The Narcissist Award to Representative Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) for $1,950,000 for the
Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service.
The Pig in Sheep’s Clothing Award to Montana Senators Max Baucus (D) and Jon Tester
(D) for $148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute.
The Unidentified Fiscal Object Award to Representative Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) for $1.6
million for the Allen Telescope Array.
The Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees Award to Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) for $344,540
for the city of Chicago GreenStreets Tree Planting Program.
The Porky and Bess Award for $7.9 million for 36 theaters in 21 states.
The Pacific Fleeced Award to Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) for $173.2 million in
defense pork.
The Taxpayers Get Steamed Award to Maine Senators Susan Collins (R) and Olympia Snowe (R),
and Rep. Thomas Allen (D-Maine) for $188,000 for the Lobster Institute.
This Pork Was Made for Walking Award to Representative Virgil Goode (R-Va.) for $98,000 to
develop a walking tour of Boydton, Virginia.
The Return to Sender Award to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for $196,000 for
the renovation and transformation of the historic downtown Post Office in Las Vegas.
It's time to end the pork once and for all. It's our money.
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