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Since you mentioned Pork - - - -

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by TexasSky, Jul 28, 2005.

  1. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    These are just a FEW of the pork-barrel expenses added by Democrats in 2005. Some with a little help from Republicans.

    $13,730,093 for projects in the state of Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and the district of House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member David Obey (D-Wis.), including: $4,900,000 for the Nutrient Management Laboratory in Marshfield; $1,050,000 for a cooperative agreement with the Sand County Foundation; $950,000 for the Grazing Lands Initiative with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture; $817,000 for urban horticulture; $569,000 for the Babcock Institute (according to their website, their "strategy is twofold: to enhance the competitiveness of the US dairy industry by drawing on global perspectives; to strengthen dairy industries around the world by sharing US expertise." With a $2 billion U.S. dairy subsidy and the rest of the world’s penchant for subsidies, it seems as if they already know each other’s secrets); $225,000 for dairy forage research in Madison; and $114,000 for the Conservation Land Internship Program.
    $11,452,000 added by the Senate for projects in the state of Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), including: $4,418,000 for the GIS Center of Excellence at West Virginia University; $3,638,000 for the Appalachian Fruit Laboratory in Kearneysville; $860,000 for Appalachian small farmer outreach; $711,000 for aquaculture product and marketing development; $654,000 for agriculture waste utilization research; $569,000 for water pollutants research; $300,000 for the Potomac and Ohio River Basin Soil Nutrient Project; and $150,000 for turfgrass research in Beaver.
    $404,175,000 for projects in the state of Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), including: $33,900,000 for the Maui Space Surveillance System operations and research; $23,000,000 for the Hawaii Federal Health Care Network; $7,000,000 for the Center for Excellence for Research in Ocean Sciences; $6,400,000 for the digitization of technical and operations manuals; $5,000,000 for Hawaii energy and environmental technology research; $4,500,000 for the Center of Excellence for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance; $4,250,000 for Pacific Island health care referral; $3,400,000 for the Hickam Air Force Base Alternative Fuel Vehicle Program; $3,400,000 for Project Albert; $3,400,000 for strategic materials research; $2,700,000 for the Hawaii National Guard Counter-Drug Program; $2,100,000 for thin layer chromatography research; $2,600,000 for flood mitigation at Lualualei; $1,700,000 for Project Endeavor; $1,700,000 for the Pacific Rim Corrosion Research Program; and $1,100,000 for the Marine Mammal Research Program.
    $9,630,000 for projects in the state of Senate Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee member Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).

    $8,345,000 for projects in the state of Senate appropriator Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

    $355,000 for floriculture research in the state of Senate appropriator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). According to USDA, "this research is supporting Hawaii’s tropical flower and foliage plant industry…the state of Hawaii valued out-of-state sales of tropical flowers and foliage at $83 million in 1982." Since 1989, $4.6 million has been spent on this research.
    $335,000 for cranberry/blueberry disease and breeding in New Jersey.
    $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.
    $38,500,000 for projects in the state of Senate Commerce Appropriations subcommittee member Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and the district of House appropriator Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), including: $5,750,000 for NOAA construction activities on the Chesapeake Bay; $4,500,000 for the NOAA Oxford Laboratory; $3,000,000 for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation; $2,500,000 for the Alliance for Coastal Technologies; and $400,000 for a wireless high speed network for Prince George’s County.
    $10,390,000 for projects in the state of Senate appropriator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and the district of House appropriator Tom Latham (R-Iowa), including: $1,500,000 for the Midwest Forensics Resource Center; $765,000 for the Highway Interdiction Team; $650,000 for the Science Center for Teaching, Outreach, and Research on Meteorology (STORM) Project at the University of Northern Iowa; $500,000 for Iowa State University (ISU) for a cyber crime program; and $200,000 for an Internet scale event and attack generation environment at ISU.
    $10,150,000 for projects in the state of Senate Commerce Appropriations subcommittee member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and the districts of House appropriators George Nethercutt, Jr. (RWash.) and Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), including: $1,700,000 for the Northwest Fisheries Science Center; $1,500,000 for Maury Island (the chamber of commerce’s website boasts, "There is something special and magical about being on an island, the pace is slower, the people friendly, the attitudes relaxed. Whether you are petting a Llama, slowing for deer crossing the road or watching eagles soar, you're sure to love Vashon"); $500,000 for Bainbridge Island (Mayor Darlene Kordonowy brags that Bainbridge Island is a "unique place with a colorful history" and that "[w]e value the special contributions our residents make to the community — through the arts, the farms, and the numerous and active non-profit organizations. A vibrant entrepreneurial spirit is exemplified by the locally owned store fronts on Winslow Way, the neighborhood service centers and over 1,000 home-based businesses"); and $100,000 for Lake Washington Technical College.
    $9,100,000 for projects in the state of Senate Commerce Appropriations subcommittee member Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and the district of House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member David Obey (D-Wis.), including: $3,000,000 for a geodetic survey; $950,000 for the Milwaukee County Judicial Oversight Demonstration Initiative; $500,000 for the Fox Valley Technical College DNA Training Initiative; $400,000 for Milwaukee Community Partners; and $150,000 for the Milwaukee Summer Stars Program.
    $5,791,000 added by the Senate for the East-West Center (EWC) in the state of Senate Commerce Appropriations subcommittee member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). According to the House report, "The Committee recommendation provides for phasing out the direct sole-source grant from the Federal government." The Committee noted that EWC started receiving federal funds in fiscal 1961, and it could solicit contributions and compete for other grants to support its research and training activities. EWC finances various activities and workshops on topics such as community based forestry and premarital sex, and holds a biannual international fair with music, dance, crafts, and games. The organization has generous corporate contributors. The McInerny Foundation matches alumni donations 1:1, up to $100 each. The Hawaii Pacific Rim Society supports projects and programs such as the "Huun-Huur-Tu: Throat Singers of Tuva" performance in February 2004, and the "Masks of Southeast Asia" exhibition and performance-demonstrations in July and September 2004. The society has also provided a "generous contribution" to the Ariyoshi Fund to provide financial assistance to East-West Center students. The Bank of Hawaii finances "AsiaPacific Breakfast Briefings," which are attended by Hawaiian business and community leaders, and the Center’s members who contribute $100 or more. EWC has received $66 million in pork-barrel spending since 1991.
    $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.
    $4,400,000 for projects in the state of Senate Commerce Appropriations subcommittee member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), including: $1,750,000 for the Vermont Drug Task Force; $1,000,000 for equipment and planning for the Vermont Forensics Laboratory; $250,000 for Vermont northeast weather and wind data integration; and $100,000 for the Vermont Coalition of Teen Centers.
    $305,516,000 added by the Senate for the DD(X). According to Inside the Pentagon (ITN), "At least three of the Navy's big-ticket shipbuilding programs face major affordability concerns that could force the department to cut costs by dropping or changing requirements, Inside the Navy reports. Navy officials will review the DD(X) destroyer, LHA(R) amphibious ship and MPF(F) prepositioning ship programs, ‘and any other large acquisition program where affordability is a major concern,’ according to an Oct. 18 internal memorandum from Vice Adm. Cutler Dawson, the Navy's top resources and requirements official. The memo, obtained by ITN, provides a brief account of cost concerns that could affect programs worth billions of dollars. Due to finish sometime in November, the review is part of early preparation work for the fiscal year 2007 budget process."
    $75,372,000 for projects in the state of Senate Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee member Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and the district of House appropriator Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), including: $25,000,000 for the Marmet Lock on the Kanawha River; $1,000,000 for the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory Training Facility at Camp Dawson ($5,000,000 for planning, design, and construction and $4,000,000 for physical improvements); $6,600,000 for Bluestone Lake dam safety; and $59,000 for Island Creek at Logan.
    43,813,000 for projects in the state of Senate appropriator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and the district of House appropriator David Vitter (R-La.), including: $11,450,000 for the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway ($9,000,000 for construction and $2,450,000 for operation and maintenance.
    $18,066,000 for projects in the state of Senate Interior Appropriations subcommittee member Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and the district of House Interior Appropriations subcommittee member Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), including: $4,275,000 for the New River Gorge National River; $3,400,000 for Harpers Ferry National Historic Park; $1,086,000 for molecular biology and a water resource study at Leetown Science Center; and $1,000,000 for freshwater mussel recovery and the Wild Fish Propagation Center at White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery.
    $10,451,000 added by the Senate for projects in the state of Senate Interior Appropriations subcommittee member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), including: $2,600,000 for the Pinnacles National Monument near San Jose; $1,600,000 for the Mojave National Preserve (The funds will be used to move the belongings of five ranchers who have moved out of the area in recent years. The National Park Service will "relocate" items such as household goods, windmills, tanks and troughs. There’s still one rancher left on the preserve who refuses to move); $1,000,000 for the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge; and $540,000 for the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge.
    $8,750,000 added for projects in the state of Senate appropriator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and the districts of House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) and House Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee member George Nethercutt, Jr. (R-Wash), including: $2,000,000 for Mt. Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument emergency readiness preparations and activities for the 25th anniversary celebration (which will occur on May 18, 2005); $1,700,000 for Mount Rainier National Park; and $300,000 for the Bremerton Building 50 Naval Museum.
    $72,952,000 for projects in the state of Senate appropriator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the districts of House Labor/HHS Appropriations subcommittee members Randy Cunningham (R-Calif.) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), and the districts of House appropriators John Doolittle (R-Calif.), Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), and Sam Farr (D-Calif.), including: $1,300,000 for the Monterey County Probation Department in Salinas for a gang prevention and intervention program; $1,250,000 for the American Film Institute’s Screen Education Program; $250,000 for the Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena to develop a Shake Zone Education Exhibit; $200,000 for the Motion Picture and Television Funds (MPTF) in Woodland Hills for a physical and occupational therapy facility (on its website, MPTF boasts "you may think of us as the actor's retirement home, but we are also so much more"); $150,000 for education programs at the GRAMMY Foundation in Santa Monica (revenues for the U.S. motion picture and sound recording industries reached $78 billion in 2003); $150,000 for the Lady B. Ranch in Apple Valley for a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program; and $100,000 for the Tiger Woods Foundation for at-risk youth programs in Los Alamitos. Tiger won $1,854,000 in his first two victories of 2005, while the foundation has net assets of nearly $32.6 million.
    $56,528,000 added in conference for projects in the state of Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and the district of House appropriator Alan B. Mollohan (D-W.Va.), including: $20,000,000 for West Virginia University to construct a Biomedical Science Research Center; $4,000,000 for Mountain State University to construct the Allied Health Technology Tower; $2,000,000 for Marshall University for a mobile medical unit that will provide pediatric care to children in rural areas of Wayne, Lincoln, and Cabell Counties; $1,050,000 for the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation ($550,000 for the development of a technology-based teacher professional development model and $500,000 for an information technology training program); and $135,000 for the Kanawha County Board of Education in Clendenin for the Herbert Hoover High School Technology Project.
    $48,854,000 added in conference in the state of Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and the district of House appropriator Tom Latham (R-Iowa), including: $15,000,000 for the Iowa Department of Education to continue the Harkin Grant Program (according to a September 4, 2004 press release, "Since 1998, Iowa schools have received a total of $101 million in Harkin Grants, the only federal program of its kind"); $3,000,000 for the Iowa Department of Public Health to initiate the Harkin Wellness Grant Program; $1,000,000 for the State Historical Society of Iowa in Des Moines, for the development of exhibits for the World Food Prize; $235,000 for the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls to support youth fitness and obesity efforts for rural preschool children; $200,000 for the Iowa Games to continue the Lighten Up Iowa Program (the games are held by the Iowa Sports Foundation [ISF], which claims on its website that "the ISF receives no state or government financial support."); and $100,000 for National History Day for a history competition in Iowa.
    $42,441,000 added in conference for projects in the state of Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee member Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), the district of House Labor/HHS Appropriations subcommittee member Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), and the districts of House appropriators Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) and Mark Kirk (Rill.), including: $1,000,000 for Southern Illinois University in Carbondale for the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, including an endowment; $300,000 for the Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago for arts education programs; $250,000 for the Science in Your World Program at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago; $200,000 for the Family First Support Center in Waukegan; $200,000 for the "Explore and Soar" Education Program at the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn; and $95,000 for Springfield School District #186, for a middle school history experience
    $15,800,000 added in conference for projects in the district of House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member David Obey (D-Wisc.), including: $9,000,000 for facilities and equipment for the Marshfield Clinic Melvin R. Laird Center for Applied Science; $700,000 for the Northwest Concentrated Employment Program for the Talent Profiling System; and $75,000 for the Community Dental Care Foundation in Wausau, to provide dental screening and sealants for children.
    $12,346,000 added in conference for projects in the districts of House Labor/HHS Appropriations subcommittee member Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and House appropriator James Walsh (R-N.Y.), including: $5,000,000 for Syracuse University to establish and support an endowment for the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Global Affairs Institute; $200,000 for both the Rosmond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra for educational programs; $100,000 for the Westchester Philharmonic in White Plains for music education programs; and $50,000 for the Andrus Children’s Center for the Yonkers Early Childhood Initiative.
    $11,565,000 added in conference for projects in the state of Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations subcommittee member Harry Reid (Dnev.)
    $23,150,000 added by the Senate for projects in the state of Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Robert Byrd (DW. Va.): $13,000,000 for a C-5 airport parking apron/hydrant system at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in Martinsburg; $6,000,000 for a fire crash rescue station at Yeager Air National Guard Base; and $4,150,000 a C-5 flight simulator at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in Martinsburg.
    $20,500,000 added by the Senate for projects in the state of Senate Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii): $8,000,000 for Phase IIB of the Pohakuloa Training Area Saddle Road Access Project; $7,500,000 for the Advanced Electro-Optical System Primary Mirror Coating Facility at the Maui Space Surveillance Site; and $5,000,000 for electrical upgrades at Hickam Air Force Base.
    $17,160,000 for projects in the state of Senate appropriator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and the districts of House appropriators George Nethercutt, Jr. (R-Wash.) and Norm Dicks (D-Wash.): $8,200,000 for the Fort Lewis Army Chapel (which offers diverse services for Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even Wiccans); $6,970,000 for Phase I of the lab consolidation at Bangor Naval Base; and $1,990,000 for a dangerous materials storehouse at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
    $16,867,000 added by the Senate for projects in the state of Senate Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee member Tim Johnson (D-S.D.): $9,867,000 for the Ellsworth Air Force Base Operations Center and $7,000,000 for a squadron operations facility at Joe Foss Field in Sioux City. Besides serving as home to South Dakota’s 114th Fighter Group, Joe Foss Field is also a regional airport. In an April 28, 2004 press release, Sen. Johnson stated that "as a member of the Senate Appropriations committee, it is always great to see funding going back to the state. Joe Foss Field is a major conduit for our state. It is necessary to keep the airport in appropriate working condition for the continued economic development of the region."
    $14,300,000 for projects at Dyess Air Force Base in the district of House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Chet Edwards (D-Texas): $11,000,000 for a fire crash rescue station and $3,300,000 for a base refueling vehicle maintenance shop.
    $6,700,000 added by the House in the district of House Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee member Sam Farr (D-Calif.) for construction of the Presidio of Monterey Dental Clinic at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey, Calif. The clinic will serve personnel at the DLI and Naval Postgraduate School.
    $95,350,000 for projects in the state of Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and the district of House appropriator Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), including: $15,000,000 for the King Cole Highway in Mingo County; $15,000,000 for Corridor H; $3,000,000 for improvements to U.S. Route 35 in Mason County; $1,400,000 for West Virginia University’s Exhaust Emissions Testing Initiative; $750,000 for the I-95/West Virginia Drive Interchange; and $200,000 for streetscape improvements in Berkeley Springs. Berkeley Springs, a cozy little mountain town just two hours from Washington, D.C., offers visitors "state-of-the-art spas, unique shops and local arts, all surrounded by West Virginia's splendid outdoors."
    $51,150,000 for projects in the state of Senate appropriator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and the district of House appropriator Tom Latham (R-Iowa), including: $3,500,000 for the Council Bluffs East Beltway; $2,000,000 for the Des Moines Riverwalk (which received $1,000,000 in fiscal 2004 and is expected to cost a total of $26.5 million); $2,000,000 for the MLK, Jr. Parkway in Des Moines; $1,100,000 for the Bettendorf Interstate 74 bridge; $1,000,000 for improvements to US Highway 6 in Coralville (the beneficiary of $50 million for an indoor rainforest in fiscal 2004); $1,000,000 for a bus facility in Ames; and $500,000 for a Highway 92 study in Warren County.
    $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.
    $39,950,000 for projects in the state of Senate Transportation/Treasury Appropriations subcommittee member Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and the district of House Transportation/Treasury Appropriations subcommittee member Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), including: $5,000,000 for the Southern Maryland Commuter Bus Initiative; $1,500,000 for WMATA clean fleet buses; $1,000,000 for the Baltimore City Intelligent Transportation System; $1,000,000 for the Rockville Town Center Transit Project; $1,000,000 for the St. Mary’s College of Maryland pedestrian overpass; and $500,000 for B&O Railroad Museum restorations (which received $872,000 in fiscal 2004).
    $11,000,000 for projects in the district of House appropriator Marion Berry (D-Ark.): $5,000,000 for the relocation of Highway 226 in Jonesboro; $2,000,000 for work on US 412 Mountain Home to Highway 101; $1,000,000 for work on US 412 Paragould to Big Slough Ditch; $1,000,000 for rail grade separation on Highway 165 in Stuttgart; $1,000,000 for development of a parallel runway at Baxter County Regional Airport; and $1,000,000 for the Caraway Overpass Project in Jonesboro.
    $5,460,000 for projects in the district of House Transportation/Treasury Appropriations subcommittee member James Clyburn (D-S.C.), including: $1,600,000 to acquire and install an instrument landing system at Walterboro Municipal Airport; $1,500,000 for North Main Street improvements in Columbia; and $1,000,000 for King Street and Spring Cannon Corridor redevelopments in Charleston.
    Added by the House for Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) in the district of Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.). ART whisks visitors to the city’s fun-filled destinations, including Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, and the Anaheim Convention Center. The "fleet's dynamic, resort-themed appearance along with its specially trained uniformed drivers heighten the resort district's branding and make it easy for guests to identify the ART product." ART received $500,000 in last year’s Transportation/Treasury Appropriations bill. What a goofy project.
    $200,000 added in conference for the National Student/Parent Mock Election in Tucson, Ariz. Founded in 1982, the organization is dedicated to making "students and parents aware of the power of their ballot by actively involving them in a full-fledged campaign and national election." The program is run by volunteers at the state and local level, and provides free materials and events. Run by volunteers, paid for by the taxpayers — what a great lesson to teach our children.
    $61,429,250 for projects in the state of Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and the district of House VA/HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), including: $4,296,600 for the Vandalia Heritage Foundation, Inc. (which happened to be created by Rep. Mollohan); $2,037,000 for Glenville State College for the construction of a new campus community center and the planning and design of a new science center; $1,250,000 for the McDowell County Commission for infrastructure and site development at Indian Ridge Industrial Park; $750,000 for Beckley for downtown revitalization; $657,000 for the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation in Lewisburg for facilities construction; $97,000 for the Strand Theatre Preservation Society in Moundsville for theatre renovations; $97,000 for the Tyler County Commission for facilities construction and renovations; and $72,750 for the Wetzel County 4-H Camp in Martinsville for facilities renovation and build out.
    $27,850,000 for projects in the state of Senate VA/HUD Appropriations subcommittee member Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and the district of House appropriator Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), including: $3,000,000 for the Chesapeake Information Based Aeronautics Consortium; $1,750,000 for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, for photonics research; $500,000 for St. Mary’s County for the acquisition and redevelopment of Lexington Manor; $300,000 for Baltimore for the relocation of the Center Garage; $72,750 for the Enterprise Foundation in Annapolis for a feasibility study; and $72,750 for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation for construction of a stadium in Aberdeen. When the stadium is completed, it will be a replica of Camden Yards in Baltimore in order to give kids a feel for playing in the major leagues. The foundation boasts that for $60, each donor can have bricks engraved with their name placed in the stadium. Appropriate recognition of the largest contribution would be to have 1,212 bricks engraved with "A Gift from the American Taxpayer."
     
  2. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    Oh, why must you spew the hate? <--- note to the humor-impaired: that there is a joke.

    Seriously, do you really think the Democrats are more effective at bringing the Federal $$$ back to their constituents? Most senators and congressmen would consider that to be points in their favor as far as their own states and districts are concerned.
     
  3. yeshua4me2

    yeshua4me2 New Member

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    it's not the job of the federal gov't to give away my money for wastes of time. i write a check at the end of the year for my taxes and think every american should have to do it this way, withholdings allow for this kind of pork, because "you never had the money to begin with".

    If more Americans actually had knowledge of how much money they pay in taxes (employers pay none of your taxes social security or otherwise) there would be massive public outrage


    Federal Money should stay at the fed level and not used as "payoffs" for support on other legislation. which is what "PORK" is.

    thankyou and God Bless
     
  4. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    "Seriously, do you really think the Democrats are more effective at bringing the Federal $$$ back to their constituents?"

    Yes, and so did the watch group I got that list from. Republicans and Democrats both participated in pork barrelling, but the largest number of participants in pork barelling were Democrats.

    And the issue isn't JUST "bringing money home to your state." Most of the Republican "pork barelling" was part of the military defense packages. They didn't pay $5.7 Million to promote premarital sex.
     
  5. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    Makes one a little [well actually a lot] sick at the stomach doesn't it? The worst part of it is that the pork comes with Federal control.
     
  6. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    Which watch group was that?
     
  7. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    One that defines Democratic spending as pork and Republican spending as national defense or homeland security?

    Besides, I had been told that the Republicans were in charge of the federal budget, what with control of the presidence and both houses of Congress.
     
  8. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    rsr,

    1) They didn't divide it that way.

    They divided the lists into general categories like "Military defense Pork" Space Pork etc., and who spent what in that category. It just happened that the majority of the Republicans showed up as asking for things for various military bases.

    2) The group was a non-partisan consumer group "Against Government Waste."

    3) Look at the list above. The list above shows who added what to various pieces of legislation. For instance, if you wanted to vote for the Ag Act, you had to vote for the AG pork that came out with it.
     
  9. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    TexasSky, we need a link for your post and we also need to edit the length of your post to conform to copyright laws. Is it www.cagw.org ?

    Thanks,
    Lady Eagle,
    Moderator [​IMG]
     
  10. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    Can't be cagw; Ted Stevens of Alaska is the biggest porker of all ($500 billion) according to cagw's list.

    Still, I thought the Republicans were in charge of the appropriations. Funny how that works.
     
  11. mioque

    mioque New Member

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    "Most of the Republican "pork barelling" was part of the military defense packages."
    "
    In other words, wasting the defense budget on handouts for the voters instead of things the US military actually needs.
     
  12. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    Aside from changing "Kohl(Dwis)" to "Kohl(D-Wis)" the wording seems identical - down to the editorial "What a goofy project" re the ART transit project. (thanks, LE)

    It does seem to have been extensively and selectively edited. Interesting how leaving off the top two items on the watchdog's list skews the numbers.


    I guess it just goes to show how sneaky those Democrats are...

    Seriously though, from reading through the list, both Republicans and Democrats have ranking members on the Appropriations Committee and the various Sub-committees, which seems to be key to bringing home the bacon. While the Chairmen are chosen from the majority party, the Steering Committees of the House & Senate assigns majority party members to committees and the Committees on Committees (gotta love that name) assigns the minority party members. I know that seniority counts, but how the spots are divvied up, I'm not sure. I believe that once a senator or congressman is on a committee, he or she is not generally bumped and does retain his or her ranking. Nevertheless, simply by being the majority party, the Republicans are assured more seats on more committees as well as the chairmanships.

    The Appropriations Committee has got to be a plum committee any year. The Budget Committee is got to be a different can o'worms - it requests the money and the Appropriations can dole out either less or surprisingly more (I don't know if the Ap Com can give out totally unrequested money).

    (Linky to Committee Info)

    [ July 29, 2005, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: Daisy ]
     
  13. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    The House and Senate have different mechanisms but, yes, appropriations are different from authorizations.

    Typically, a House committee — say Armed Services — will authorize expenditures. A subcommittee of Appropriations (then the full committee) will approve appropriations.

    Thus Rep. ABC on the authorization committee will push for something in the authorization process; Rep. DEF will ask for something in the appropriations process.

    This provides fertile ground for log rolling and looking good for the folks back home. Rep. ABC can go back to his district — having shephereded through a bit of spending he knows will never get final approval — and say "I was able to get authorization for our Most Important Project Ever, but the trolls over at Appropriations wouldn't listen to reason."

    Technically, appropriations and authorizations are supposed to match; however, if everyone keeps mum, they don't have to.
     
  14. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    Yes, I noticed this passage from the cagw site: $14,000,000 added by the House for a covert surveillance aircraft for the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard currently has fixedwing aircraft for long-range surveillance activities and doesn’t plan to procure new planes until 2016. However, the House Appropriations Committee believed that "this void must be addressed now," and appropriated the funds despite the Coast Guard’s stated lack of urgency.

    And: This tango with our tax dollars continued as USDA requested only $3 million while appropriators added $121 million for CSREES projects, or 3,933 percent more than the budget request.

    Do you know how it's decided who gets which committee? Are all committees, including the Steering and Committee committees bipartisan?
     
  15. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    The steering committees are purely partisan and recommend committee assignments to each caucus. In practice, the leaderships' views are of utmost importance in determining committee assignments through the steering committees.

    In the House, the Speaker is chairman of steering committe and the Rules Committee and can appoint most of the members of the Rules Committee. (Right now, the Republicans outnumber Democrats on the Rules Committee 9-4.) The Senate is a bit different; Republicans outnumber Democrats 10-8, and the majority leader is not the chairman.

    Each party's membership is determined by their relative strengths, with exceptions, such as Rules, especially in the House. (The ethics committees are an exception; in both the House and Senate, membership is divided evenly.)

    Assignments are determined by the members' interest and the needs of the party. For example, a representative who has a military base in his district may want to serve on Armed Services. Leaders, eager to see their members elected, often promise certain seats in advance to help their candidates get elected.
     
  16. One View

    One View New Member

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    Being a Republican, I must say, I am totally opposed to all of this pork barrel spending!!!!!

    ...... That is unless it benefits me, of course. Then, I would say, it must be a good program! [​IMG]

    Republicans and Democrats both share the blame here, and especially the voters.
     
  17. emeraldctyangel

    emeraldctyangel New Member

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    My district:
    The money for "Building 50 for a Naval Museum" in downtown Bremerton, WA made me laugh. With the reoganization of the shipyard, BRAC issues, and reduction in force makes Bremerton a virtual ghost town. It isnt even that great of a museum and they are still smarting over losing the USS Missouri.

    The last thing people need is another study on fish. And Vashon Island? It's an island. WHAT do they need federal funds for? Bainbridge Island too.

    I am for the alternate fuels station for Hickham AFB, HI. This is a step in ending our dependence on middle eastern oil.
     
  18. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    Lady Eagle,

    It looks like same group, but not the same page, though I don't have the URL.

    Edit the length anyway you want.

    In regards to copyright, there wasn't a copyright on the page I got it from (I looked), and -unfortunately, I didn't come anywhere close to getting it all, so even if there were copyrights, I feel it would have fallen into the "fair use" restrictions.

    If you feel uncomfortable though, go ahead and delete it. I totally understand. When I get back to my office I'll see if I can find the URL I used.
     
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