Oink!! Oink!!

[Mr. P]

Once again, Congress porked out at record levels. For fiscal 2005, appropriators stuffed 13,997 projects into the 13 appropriations bills, an increase of 31 percent over last year’s total of 10,656. In the last two years, the total number of projects has increased by 49.5 percent. The cost of these projects in fiscal 2005 was $27.3 billion, or 19 percent more than last year’s total of $22.9 billion. In fact, the total cost of pork has increased by 21 percent since fiscal 2003. Total pork identified by CAGW since 1991 adds up to $212 billion.

http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2005

 

[Mr. P]

$1,790,000 for berry research; $1,108,000 for alternative salmon products; $358,000 for seed research; $284,000 for ethnobotany research; $167,000 for salmon quality standards; and $160,000 for seafood waste research in Fairbanks.

$68,600,000 added by the Senate for projects in the state of Senate Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D-S.C.), including: $20,000,000 for the Bonneau Ferry; $17,000,000 for the South Carolina Judicial Department Case Docket System; $500,000 for the South Carolina Taxonomic Center; and $250,000 for the Charleston Bump.

$60,977,000 for projects in the state of Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), including: $18,700,000 for Alaska Seals and Stellar Sea Lions; $2,000,000 for training village public safety officers; $1,100,000 for alcohol interdiction for bootlegging crimes; $1,000,000 for mobile computers for Wasilla police cars; $265,000 for a training academy driver simulator; and $150,000 for the Aleut Marine Mammal Commission.

$39,091,000 added by the Senate for projects in the state of Senate Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), including: $8,000,000 for the Great Bay Partnership; $5,000,000 for the Institute for Security Technology; $3,000,000 for the continuation of the J-ONE Information Sharing System; $2,500,000 for construction of the Seacoast Science Center; and $100,000 for New Hampshire expansion of the Go-Girl-Go (GGO) Program. According to GGO’s website, "Across the country, the GoGirlGo! Grant and Educational Curriculum will enhance the wellness of girls as they navigate between childhood and early womanhood by using sport/physical activity as an educational intervention and social asset." A former grant recipient is Lisa Leapers, which "is an after school jump roping sport’s team founded in 1999 and sponsored through the Community Schools Program in Alaska. The 40 girls that participate in this program conduct workshops, teach other kids to jump rope and perform at various sporting events over a 28 week period." Where’s the hula hoop grant?


$4,770,000 for projects in the state of Senate appropriator Harry Reid (D-Nev.), including: $1,500,000 for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Communications System; $750,000 for the National Judicial College; $735,000 for the Family Development Foundation in Las Vegas; $550,000 for the Henderson Emergency Operations Center; $200,000 for the Boulder City wireless communications canopy; $200,000 for the Computer Corp skills and knowledge acquired toward enhancing success; and $50,000 for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Boyd School of Law and Immigration Clinic.

IV. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
In November 2004, the residents of Ward 8 in Washington, D.C., elected former Mayor (and ex-convict) Marion Barry to the District of Columbia (D.C.) City Council. Shortly thereafter, the lame duck City Council acquiesced to Major League Baseball’s demands and guaranteed that 50 percent of the construction of the new $535 million baseball stadium would be financed by the city (read: taxpayers). On top of these burdens to the nation’s capital, Congress added 76 projects costing $32.5 million in fiscal 2005. That represents a 25 percent increase over the 61 projects and a 4 percent increase over the $31.2 million in pork in fiscal 2004.
$1,000,000 for the National Trust for Historic Preservation for capital development for the Lincoln Cottage. With National Trust revenues exceeding $62 million and assets of more than $180 million, there is plenty of money to proceed with this project rather than taking it from the taxpayers.
$900,000 for capital development for the Shakespeare Theatre. In an appeal for more donations, the theater’s website pleads, "Despite record-breaking attendance, ticket revenue and other earned income account for just half of the Theatre's $12 million operating budget. More than 300 corporations, foundations and public agencies along with more than 7,500 individuals generously provide the additional support required for the Theatre to fulfill its mission as the nation's leading force in producing and preserving classic theatre." That could explain the theater’s revenue of $20.8 million and expenses of $11.4 million at the end of 2003. Their assets total $39.5 million. This theater should be Bard from receiving any more public funding.
$400,000 for the DC Commission on the Arts for the Main Street Arts Initiative.
$400,000 for educational outreach for the Washington Opera.
$250,000 for Eastern Market renovation.
$150,000 for the Dance Institute of Washington (DIW). DIW’s website boasts about its sponsors such as the Bank of America, the Fannie Mae Foundation (let’s hope DIW has better accountants) and the Ludacris Foundation. One would think that with such wealthy benefactors, this would be a multimillion dollar venture. Not so; at the end of 2002 DIW’s revenue was only $813,000. If income is similar this year, the $150,000 federal grant would be 18 percent of DIW’s total revenue. Now, that is truly ludicrous.
$100,000 for the Bach to School Program. Maybe they should give Bach the money.
$80,000 for the Fort Dupont Hockey Club kids at-risk program. This public skating rink rents ice time to individual skaters for $3 an hour, to ice hockey teams for $220 per hour, and to nonprofits for $125 per hour. Birthday parties are also welcome. According to its website, the rink has "a long standing proposal into the National Park Service to expand the facility to allow for another skating pad, new lockers rooms and showers and other additional space needs." Next thing you know, taxpayers will be bailing out the National Hockey League.

Pissed yet? There’s lots more…

 

[Nuc]

We needs us a revolution.

 

[Mr. P]

We needs us a revolution.

Ya know, if people had any idea of how much tax they DO pay and where it really goes, we may. At least at the voter booth.

 

[Mr. P]

This one should get ya...

$200,000,000 added by the Senate for the Commodity Import Program (CIP) for Egypt. According to a 2004 Government Accountability Office report, "The CIP provides loans to Egyptian importers of U.S. goods and, through loan repayments, supplies funds to the government of Egypt. During fiscal years 1999-2003, about 650 Egyptian firms used the CIP to import $1.1 billion in U.S. products from approximately 670 U.S exporters. In a 2003 USAID survey, about two-thirds of CIP importers said that they would have imported U.S. goods without the program, but half said that it helped increase their firm's production capacity and onethird said that it helped increase their firm's employment levels." Looks like a pyramid scheme to us.

THAT'S 200 MILLION!!! Of our MONEY!!!

 

[Mr. P]

Just another 10 Million..ahhhhhh so what?

$10,000,000 added by the House for the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) in support of the Anglo-Irish Accord. This U.S. contribution to the fund is to be spent on "those projects that hold the greatest potential for job creation and equal opportunity for the Irish people." Such projects have included building a replica of the Jeanie Johnston (a Canadian ship that once ferried famine victims across the Atlantic), a national water sports center used for coaching top-level athletes, golf videos, and exporting sweaters. Through war and peace, rain and shine, surplus and deficits, IFI receives funding, accumulating $439 million since 1986.

 

[Mr. P]

1.7 Million for POOP!!!!

$1,700,000 for the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) in the state of Senate Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and the district of House appropriator Robert Cramer (R-Ala.). Since 1997, Congress has shoveled $15.7 million to IFDC in Muscle Shoals through the U.S. Agency for International Development. The IFDC was founded in 1974 with the vision of helping in "the quest for global food security." The Muscle Shoals facility has also been asked to research how the world’s food supply would be impacted if production of ammonium nitrate was banned, and research fertilizer used for explosives. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) praised IFDC: "I believe it is one of the most effective programs our government has to improve the world. Dollar for dollar, there is nothing we do that will ease world hunger more than teaching underdeveloped nations modern farming techniques and how to wisely use fertilizer." And here we thought all of the fertilizer research was being conducted underneath the Capitol.

 

[Mr. P]

What's with Alaska? GEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZ

$90,975,000, or 13.4 percent of the total pork dollars, for projects in the state of Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), including: $11,000,000 for sales preparation, maintenance, and pre-commercial thinning of the Tongass National Forest; $9,500,000 for Alaska conveyance (which has received $29,300,000 since fiscal 2000); $7,420,000 to replace the Eielson Visitor Center at Denali National Park; $3,242,000 for the Base Volcano Monitoring Program in Shemya; $900,000 for the Marine Mineral Technology Center; $790,000 for the Bering Sea Fisherman’s Association; $739,000 to build a historical resource support center to protect the museum collection at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park; $392,000 for Alaska legal services; $150,000 for the Alaska Whaling Commission; and $98,000 for the Alaska Sea Otter Commission.

 

[Mr. P]

IX. LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION (LABOR/HHS)

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) got it right in a November 20, 2004 press release: "[E]very year, it’s the same thing — Congress passes spending bills loaded with pork projects." The fiscal 2005 Labor/HHS Appropriations Act is the poster child for the appropriators’ excess. Of the 3,071 projects, 98 percent were added in conference; the total is a 57.4 percent increase over the 1,951 projects in fiscal 2004. The projects cost $1.69 billion, an increase of 79.6 percent over fiscal 2004’s $943 million.

And that's just...LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION (LABOR/HHS).

 

[Mr. P]

Alaska AGAIN!!!

$134,425,000 for projects in the state of Senate AppropriationsCommittee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), including: $25,000,000 to rehabilitate the Alaska Railroad (this project has received $162,000,000 since fiscal 1996); $4,900,000 for wind/weather research in Juneau; $2,000,000 for recreational improvements to the Seward highway; $1,500,000 for a transit intermodal depot at the Anchorage Museum; $1,000,000 for Emmonak street lighting; and $250,000 for the University of Alaska for the 50th anniversary celebration of Alaska’s statehood. According to a December 2004 Sun Star article, Sen. Stevens asked for $1.3 million for the January 2009 celebration, but he had to settle for one-fifth of his request — for now.

 

[Mr. P]

Now I can tell you the lighting at Monroe airport is just fine!

$47,900,000 for projects in the state of Senate appropriator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and the district of House appropriator David Vitter (R-La.), including: $3,000,000 for the Greater Ouachita Port and Intermodal Facility; $2,200,000 for airfield lighting at Monroe Regional Airport; $1,500,000 for the West Baton Rouge Emergency Communications Center; $1,000,000 for the Leeville Bridge in Lafourche Parish; $800,000 for Phase I land acquisition and project design for the Bastrop-Morehouse Memorial Airport; and $500,000 to replace the Prospect Street Bridge in Houma.

 

[Mr. P]

Why re-elect a republican? Like it or not they have been in charge..


http://www.cagw.org/images/content/pagebuilder/163853.jpg

 

[theim]

Why re-elect a republican? Like it or not they have been in charge..


http://www.cagw.org/images/content/pagebuilder/163853.jpg

Cause it's better than a Democrat who will do the same thing except bigger and without shame.

 

[Mr. P]

Cause it's better than a Democrat who will do the same thing except bigger and without shame.

I knew that was coming, that's why I posted the link..It's clearly NOT TRUE.

 

[Mr. P]

How do ya like this one, theim?


The Hog Heaven Award
for $8.2 million for the Fort Lewis Army Chapel, which offers diverse services for
Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even Wiccans.

 

[acludem]

This is how Senators and Representatives get re-elected. They bring home the proverbial bacon. That's what they tout in their campaign ads and literature.

acludem

 

[Mr. P]

This is how Senators and Representatives get re-elected. They bring home the proverbial bacon. That's what they tout in their campaign ads and literature.

acludem

True to some degree, but not totally...
Then again that may explain the lack of outrage here on this site.

 

[tim_duncan2000]

This stuff outrages me. I don't know about other USMB posters. I don't know what to do about it though. Perhaps if they had to be more up front about the pork projects they tack on to stuff they would not waste so much money.

 

[Mr. P]

This stuff outrages me. I don't know about other USMB posters. I don't know what to do about it though. Perhaps if they had to be more up front about the pork projects they tack on to stuff they would not waste so much money.

The site on post #1 is a good way to start, pass it around. The more people know about this pork (WASTE) the more politicians will be held accountable.

 

[BaronVonBigmeat]

$27-something billion this year, and $212 billion since 1991. That's quite a bit, but it's really nothing compared to the monstrous outlays for social security, medicare/medicaid, the military and Iraq, and interest payments on the national debt. Sooner or later we'll have to drastically reduce or eliminate these, kicking and screaming...probably after the federal government is bankrupted and unable to find investors willing to loan it money.