Thread: Congressional Pig Book shows $19.6 billion in pork in 2009

$19.6 billion in 'pork' this year, group says

(Apr 14, 2009)


Congressional lawmakers stuffed more than 10,000 pet projects worth $19.6 billion into spending bills this year, a government watchdog group reported today.

Citizens Against Government Waste outlined the requests, called earmarks, in this year's Congressional Pig Book. The actual number of projects decreased by 12.5% from last year, but the total amount spent on earmarks went up by 14%, according to the group, which has tracked earmarks since 1991.

Among the projects the group said were the most egregious (and thus deserving of the moniker "Oinker Award"):

• $1.8 million for swine odor and manure management research in Iowa, requested by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa
• $1.9 million for the Pleasure Beach water taxi service, requested by former Republican Rep. Chris Shays of Connecticut
• $2 million for the Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholars, requested by -- you guessed it -- Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.

"The current Democratic congressional majority is following the same trajectory as their Republican predecessors," said Tom Schatz, the organization's president, in a statement. "They came into power promising to cut earmarks, and made a big show of it during their first two years. However, as the 2009 Pig Book amply illustrates, pork-barrel spending is growing fast."

Alaska -- home of former Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, who was well known for his ability to bring home the bacon -- again topped the list for the most earmark money per capita, with $322.34 per resident, according to the organization.

Arizona -- home of the anti-earmark Republican Sen. John McCain -- had the least per capita, with $11.58.

President Obama has repeatedly promised to tackle pork-barrel projects, but his signing of the omnibus spending bill in March drew criticism from some lawmakers and watchdog organizations because the $410 billion bill was full of earmarks.

Obama says he'll start tackling earmarks in the coming budget process. But freshman lawmakers -- many who campaigned to control on spending reform -- alone are requesting about $11 billion for earmarks in spending bills that Congress will take up later this year, USA TODAY's John Fritze reported last week.

(Reported by USA TODAY intern Seung Min Kim)

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/20 ... -says.html

Obama says he'll start tackling earmarks in the coming budget process. But freshman lawmakers -- many who campaigned to control on spending reform -- alone are requesting about $11 billion for earmarks in spending bills that Congress will take up later this year, USA TODAY's John Fritze reported last week.

Yeah, sure they will. These guys really think we are stupid. The democrats only wanted to cut out republican pet projects. Looks like plenty from the republicans came through though. I am tired of this one party system.

Personally, I am for swine odor and manure management. I also wish there was an earmark for bovine gas, which is methane that pokes holes in the ozone layer, and contributes to climate change.