Oink, Oink

[jreeves]

“When Congress adopted earmark reforms last year, there was hope that the number and cost of earmarks would be cut in half. By any measure, that has not occurred,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz.

In fiscal year 2008, Congress stuffed 11,610 projects (the second highest total ever) worth $17.2 billion into the 12 appropriations bills. That is a 337 percent increase over the 2,658 projects in fiscal year 2007, and a 30 percent increase over the $13.2 billion total in fiscal year 2007. Alaska led the nation with $556 in pork per capita ($380 million total), followed by Hawaii with $221 ($283 million) and North Dakota with $208 ($133 million). CAGW has identified $271 billion in total pork since 1991.

For the first time, the names of members of Congress were added to the projects. The top three porkers were members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, beginning with Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) with $892 million; Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) with $469 million; and Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) with $465 million.

The Pig Book Summary profiles the most egregious examples, breaks down pork per capita by state, and presents the annual Oinker Awards. All 11,610 projects are listed in a searchable database on CAGW’s website www.cagw.org. Examples of pork in the 2008 Pig Book include:

$3 million for The First Tee;
$1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service;
$460,752 for hops research;
$211,509 for olive fruit fly research in Paris, France;
$196,000 for the renovation and transformation of the historic Post Office in Las Vegas;
$188,000 for the Lobster Institute in Maine; and
$148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute.


http://www.cagw.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11350&news_iv_ctrl=1389

Your tax money being wisely spent, Republicans and Democrats alike. If these are your representatives in Congress, do you feel that their bridges to nowhere are worth your vote?

 

[jillian]

Oh no!! Not The First Tee?!?!?!?! How horrible!
arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

http://www.thefirsttee.org/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp

 

[jreeves]

“When Congress adopted earmark reforms last year, there was hope that the number and cost of earmarks would be cut in half. By any measure, that has not occurred,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz.

In fiscal year 2008, Congress stuffed 11,610 projects (the second highest total ever) worth $17.2 billion into the 12 appropriations bills. That is a 337 percent increase over the 2,658 projects in fiscal year 2007, and a 30 percent increase over the $13.2 billion total in fiscal year 2007. Alaska led the nation with $556 in pork per capita ($380 million total), followed by Hawaii with $221 ($283 million) and North Dakota with $208 ($133 million). CAGW has identified $271 billion in total pork since 1991.

For the first time, the names of members of Congress were added to the projects. The top three porkers were members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, beginning with Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) with $892 million; Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) with $469 million; and Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) with $465 million.

The Pig Book Summary profiles the most egregious examples, breaks down pork per capita by state, and presents the annual Oinker Awards. All 11,610 projects are listed in a searchable database on CAGW’s website www.cagw.org. Examples of pork in the 2008 Pig Book include:

$3 million for The First Tee;
$1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service;
$460,752 for hops research;
$211,509 for olive fruit fly research in Paris, France;
$196,000 for the renovation and transformation of the historic Post Office in Las Vegas;
$188,000 for the Lobster Institute in Maine; and
$148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute.


http://www.cagw.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11350&news_iv_ctrl=1389

Your tax money being wisely spent, Republicans and Democrats alike. If these are your representatives in Congress, do you feel that their bridges to nowhere are worth your vote?

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization representing more than 1.2 million members and supporters nationwide.
CAGW’smission is to eliminate waste,mismanagement, and inefficiency at all levels
of government.
In the House of Representatives, Republicans want a one-year
moratorium but will not unilaterally disarm. Democrats won’t
agree because of objections from big porkers such as House Defense
Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Murtha (D-Pa.). On
February 11, 2008, Roll Call noted, “Every private entity that received
a special project from the Pennsylvania Democrat in last year’s
defense spending bill had given him political money at some point
since 2005.” At his February 27, 2008 fundraiser for lobbyists,
Murtha received a standing ovation.
$7,556,660 for grape and wine research. Wine is a popular beverage.
In fact, in 2006, per capita U.S. wine consumption was 2.39 gallons
while the U.S. exported 404.5 million liters of wine. Total wine
sales in 2006 were $27.8 billion. There is no pressing need for taxpayers
to pay for this research.
$3,260,019 for four projects by Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas):
$1,709,946 for sorghum research and $1,550,073 for the Plant
Stress andWater Conservation Lab.

Here are just a few examples check out the complete list of bridges to nowhere legislation for yourself.
http://www.cagw.org/site/DocServer/CAGW-Pig_Book_08.pdf?docID=3001

 

[jreeves]

Oh no!! Not The First Tee?!?!?!?! How horrible!
arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

http://www.thefirsttee.org/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp

If it's great legislation then why does it have to hidden in other spending bills?

 

[jreeves]

“When Congress adopted earmark reforms last year, there was hope that the number and cost of earmarks would be cut in half. By any measure, that has not occurred,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz.

In fiscal year 2008, Congress stuffed 11,610 projects (the second highest total ever) worth $17.2 billion into the 12 appropriations bills. That is a 337 percent increase over the 2,658 projects in fiscal year 2007, and a 30 percent increase over the $13.2 billion total in fiscal year 2007. Alaska led the nation with $556 in pork per capita ($380 million total), followed by Hawaii with $221 ($283 million) and North Dakota with $208 ($133 million). CAGW has identified $271 billion in total pork since 1991.

For the first time, the names of members of Congress were added to the projects. The top three porkers were members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, beginning with Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) with $892 million; Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) with $469 million; and Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) with $465 million.

The Pig Book Summary profiles the most egregious examples, breaks down pork per capita by state, and presents the annual Oinker Awards. All 11,610 projects are listed in a searchable database on CAGW’s website www.cagw.org. Examples of pork in the 2008 Pig Book include:

$3 million for The First Tee;
$1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service;
$460,752 for hops research;
$211,509 for olive fruit fly research in Paris, France;
$196,000 for the renovation and transformation of the historic Post Office in Las Vegas;
$188,000 for the Lobster Institute in Maine; and
$148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute.


http://www.cagw.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11350&news_iv_ctrl=1389

Your tax money being wisely spent, Republicans and Democrats alike. If these are your representatives in Congress, do you feel that their bridges to nowhere are worth your vote?

http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2008Oinkers



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 Baucaus (D) and Jon Tester (D) for $148,950 for the
Montana Sheep Institute.



The Unidentified Fiscal Object Award
to Representative Ann Esshoo (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 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.

 

[acludem]

What CAGW doesn't get is that this is how you get re-elected. People bitch about about "pork-barrel" spending except when it creates jobs in their home town.

acludem

 

[jreeves]

What CAGW doesn't get is that this is how you get re-elected. People bitch about about "pork-barrel" spending except when it creates jobs in their home town.

acludem

Yeah I mean hiding funding for a golf course in a defense bill is perfectly acceptable to you.

 

[jreeves]

What CAGW doesn't get is that this is how you get re-elected. People bitch about about "pork-barrel" spending except when it creates jobs in their home town.

acludem

Tell how Mike Thompson is creating jobs in his hometown with his olive flies research earmark, that is being conducted in Paris France?

 

[acludem]

Mike Thompson represents a huge portion of Northern CA which included UC-Davis which is conducting the study. That's what it has to do with his district.

Here's the link: http://www.oliveoilsource.com/olive_fly_news.htm

acludem

 

[jreeves]

Mike Thompson represents a huge portion of Northern CA which included UC-Davis which is conducting the study. That's what it has to do with his district.

Here's the link: http://www.oliveoilsource.com/olive_fly_news.htm

acludem

Lmao...directly from the olive industries website....lmao
They don't have anything to gain from this do they? Seems as though they should paying for their own research? It seems though the olive industry and a non-partisian group is in direct conflict of each other, I don't know who the hell to believe?

 

[jreeves]

Mike Thompson represents a huge portion of Northern CA which included UC-Davis which is conducting the study. That's what it has to do with his district.

Here's the link: http://www.oliveoilsource.com/olive_fly_news.htm

acludem

At a cost of 3/4 of a billion dollars to taxpayers. I read the full report 211,000 dollars are being spent in Paris France on research.

http://www.cagw.org/site/DocServer/CAGW-Pig_Book_08.pdf?docID=3001
$742,764 by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) for olive fruit fly
research. Part of this money, $211,509, is to be spent in Paris, France.

Here's another fleecing....
$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.

Those damn mormon crickets let's spend over a billion dollars on them.

 

[jreeves]

At a cost of 3/4 of a billion dollars to taxpayers. I read the full report 211,000 dollars are being spent in Paris France on research.

http://www.cagw.org/site/DocServer/CAGW-Pig_Book_08.pdf?docID=3001
$742,764 by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) for olive fruit fly
research. Part of this money, $211,509, is to be spent in Paris, France.

Here's another fleecing....
$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.

Those damn mormon crickets let's spend over a billion dollars on them.

Excuse me if it makes it any better it's 3/4 of a million dollars and over a million. Not a billion dollars.

 

[jreeves]

Excuse me if it makes it any better it's 3/4 of a million dollars and over a million. Not a billion dollars.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4577473
Here's a video report on the waste.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4577473
Here's a video report on the waste.

Talking to yourself is not crazy. However answering yourself MAY be.

 

[Paulie]

Well thanks for at least being non-partisan about it jreeves.

 

[acludem]

I don't see every weird sounding research project as "government waste". Many of these projects sound weird but actually do have strong scientific merit and often times can contribute to human health and well-being. Why shouldn't we support scientific research?

acludem

 

[jreeves]

I don't see every weird sounding research project as "government waste". Many of these projects sound weird but actually do have strong scientific merit and often times can contribute to human health and well-being. Why shouldn't we support scientific research?

acludem

Olive fruit fly research(research that shouldn't be sponsored by the federal government), 3 million dollars for a golf course...those seem like they have a lot of scientific merit. We do support scientific research through up front legislation, not billions of dollars added onto other important legislation.

 

[jreeves]

Well thanks for at least being non-partisan about it jreeves.

No I think these idots should be voted out of office, Republican and Democrat alike. These politicians have violated voters trust.

 

[acludem]

No I think these idots should be voted out of office, Republican and Democrat alike. These politicians have violated voters trust.

Really? Most voters love to have Reps. and Sens. that bring home the bacon...as long as it's coming to their district/state. You wouldn't complain if your Sen. secured funding for a new project that created 1000 new jobs in your state now would you? But if that 1000 jobs goes to another state, look out!

These organizations are living in fantasy land. The way Reps and Sens get re-elected is by bringing money into their state/district. That's the bottom line.

acludem

 

[jreeves]

Really? Most voters love to have Reps. and Sens. that bring home the bacon...as long as it's coming to their district/state. You wouldn't complain if your Sen. secured funding for a new project that created 1000 new jobs in your state now would you? But if that 1000 jobs goes to another state, look out!

These organizations are living in fantasy land. The way Reps and Sens get re-elected is by bringing money into their state/district. That's the bottom line.

acludem

No, I don't see how these projects are anything other than wasteful spending. The state governments should finance the project if they want the benefits. I shouldn't have to pay federal taxes for studying the morman cricket. Yes I would be pissed if my rep. or sen. secured federal funding for one of their pet projects, that wasn't voted on in both houses of Congress. Because it should have to be approved by all of Congress. Besides the fact, a large majority of these projects serve to make Sen. and Rep.'s special interest's happy.