Friday, December 05, 2003
The Omnibus Oink-Oink
Appropriations Bill
I'm as amazed as you might be to see a link (below) to an article from The Heritage Foundation on Gotham Notes. But, while researching another story, I stumbled across this article from a year and a half ago that I thought applied very well to today.0 comments
Can Congress Be Embarrassed into Ending Wasteful Pork-Barrel Spending?
I assume the answer is, "No."
I was especially struck by the description ot the work of highly paid lobbyists on even the smallest Congressional pork chop. Instead of learning to write grant proposals, good folks are just hiring lobbyists. Add in campaign cash liberally, and VOILA! A Pork Roast!
Grant seekers can no longer simply submit a persuasive grant proposal to an unbiased agency. Now, they must master the Washington influence game and hire a lobbyist to pursue their interest.
Predictably, an entire lobbying industry has emerged to secure pork projects for those willing to pay for their services. Organizations and local governments seeking federal money can choose between dozens of powerful lobbying firms who effectively trade campaign contributions for earmarks.
Auctioning pork projects to the highest bidder reduces the number of merit-based grants for distribution by federal agencies, governors and mayors. These shortages induce Congress to expand these programs – and then earmark those new funds as well. Consequently, the number of pork projects skyrocketed from under 2,000 five years ago to 9,362 in the 2003 budget. Total spending on pork projects has correspondingly increased to over $23 billion.
Here's a rather decent list of what are about to become federally funded projects.
And here are some of my favorites from the AP.
- $200,000 for improvements to the privately financed Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas [Tom DeLay (R-TX) - Note the word "privately." Federal funds for the upkeep on the Bugman's friend's private toy. It's a wonderful life!].
- $150,000 for restoring buildings in the Port of LaSalle project in LaSalle, Ill., including a lock tender's house, an interpretive center and a replica mule barn (Replica mules sold separately.).
- More than $190 million in projects for the Tampa Bay area, home of House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young (R-FL).
- More than $150 million in projects for Alaska [Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)], including $10 million to help market the state's seafood [whatever happened to free enterprise?] and $150,000 to try to stabilize the beluga whale population in Cook Inlet [the Christian Right isn't going to go for this one.].
- $40 million to build a military cargo terminal for the port of Philadelphia [awarded to Sen. Arlen Spector (R-PA) after he changed his vote on the Medicare Bill—we can't say "bribe" because, of course, that would then be a federal crime. So, we'll just say, "swap," or "ol' fashioned horse trade," OK?].
- $50 million to construct an indoor rain forest and aquarium in Coralville, Iowa, heated by renewable energy sources [Cornfield as rainforest. Cool. "If you build it, they will pay for it." Federal money for a private project. Always a good deal for the the taxpayer.].
Now, of course, the interesting part of all this is that these are all Republican Pork Projects. Yes, you read correctly. Although pork has long been a Democratic arena, this is all Republican Pork! I thought that Republicans were supposed to save us from the horrors of Pork. Seems the Heritage Foundation thought the same. But, I'm just perplexed; they're turning purple.
So, it seems, when it comes to not leaving money lying on the table, there really are no ideologies. Greed and self-interest really are the only bipartisan Congressional arenas we have left.
It's funny how purity of vision blurs when the subject becomes holding onto your job and enjoying its many fine perks.
Actually, my favorite Pork Rind this year comes from the Energy (Company Subsidy) Bill—which, while currently stalled, is sure to be back bigger and stronger in January. In it, Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana was able to twist some arms and wring some sorely needed federal funds for his pet project in Louisiana. And I'm sure the state's residents will look at Breaux's new, alternatively powered Hooters restaurant in a strip mall in Shreveport with pride and patriotism.
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Or even tossed you a couple of federal bucks?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now! Be sure to ask them for some of that cash that's flying around!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 11:49 PM
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