Wednesday
Apr142010
Government Spending Watchdogs Release Annual Pork List
Citizens Against Government Waste released their annual summary of pork-barrel spending Wednesday, shining light on $16.5 billion in earmarks for projects the watchdog group deems unnecessary.
“[Members of Congress] have noticed it’s popular to posture as an anti-earmaker,” Tom Schatz, CAGW president said upon the summary's release. “Unfortunately ... most members of Congress still aren’t willing to eliminate the practice.”
Of the billions spent for pork projects, $490 million came from Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), who was named as one of the top “Oinkers,” or pork-pursuers, of 2010.
Democratic Senators also made it onto the watchdog’s radar. Tom Harkin (Iowa) and Robert Byrd (W. Va.) were both taken to task for seeking approximately $7,000,000 for projects named after them. Arlen Specter (Penn.) was chastised for securing $200,000 for a “small business incubator and multipurpose center.”
A bipartisan push by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas) and Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-Texas) also came under fire. The two Texans were grilled for an allocation of $693,000 for “beef improvement research.”
Hawaii came in at number one for the most pork spent per capita, with a projected $251.78 for each member of the state’s population. Alaska, who earned the dubious top spot last year, dropped to 4th on the list.
Although CAGW acknowledged that there has been a 15.5 percent decrease in pork-barrel spending from 2009, the organization notes that improvements still need to be made, both in the reduction of spending and overall transparency.
“[Members of Congress] have noticed it’s popular to posture as an anti-earmaker,” Tom Schatz, CAGW president said upon the summary's release. “Unfortunately ... most members of Congress still aren’t willing to eliminate the practice.”
Of the billions spent for pork projects, $490 million came from Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), who was named as one of the top “Oinkers,” or pork-pursuers, of 2010.
Democratic Senators also made it onto the watchdog’s radar. Tom Harkin (Iowa) and Robert Byrd (W. Va.) were both taken to task for seeking approximately $7,000,000 for projects named after them. Arlen Specter (Penn.) was chastised for securing $200,000 for a “small business incubator and multipurpose center.”
A bipartisan push by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas) and Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-Texas) also came under fire. The two Texans were grilled for an allocation of $693,000 for “beef improvement research.”
Hawaii came in at number one for the most pork spent per capita, with a projected $251.78 for each member of the state’s population. Alaska, who earned the dubious top spot last year, dropped to 4th on the list.
Although CAGW acknowledged that there has been a 15.5 percent decrease in pork-barrel spending from 2009, the organization notes that improvements still need to be made, both in the reduction of spending and overall transparency.
tagged 
Arlen Specter, Pork, Robert Byrd, Tom Harkin, pork barrel in Congress, Frontpage 1, News/Commentary
Arlen Specter, Pork, Robert Byrd, Tom Harkin, pork barrel in Congress, Frontpage 1, News/Commentary
Reader Comments (2)
From your article (second paragraph): "anti-earmaker", (you forgot the "r")
I don't like nitt-picking, but when you write an article for all to read, shouldn't you take more care with your spelling. . . .
Spelling errors make me wonder if this article is serious or spam.......in my world this should have been spelled as such: "anti-earmarker". . . .
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