CNN on latest pork-barrel budget

[Darth Wong]

I find it interesting that nobody in the US gets worked up over this:

Tight Budget Has Room for Special Projects

By SHARON THEIMER

WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite soaring deficits, the government spending plan awaiting President Bush's signature is chock-full of special items for industries and communities. Consider $443,000 to develop salmon-fortified baby food, or $350,000 for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Lawmakers from both parties who approved the $388 billion package last weekend set aside plenty of money for projects certain to sow good will in their home districts.

The time-honored practice flourished despite the ballooning deficit, less money for federal programs and rising unease about how government will finance the futures of Medicare and Social Security.

For instance, there was $50,000 to control Missouri's wild-hog problem, $1 million for the Norwegian American Foundation in Seattle, $335,000 to protect North Dakota's sunflowers from blackbirds, $4 million for the International Fertilizer Development Center in Alabama.

There's little mystery about why such spending survives in good times or bad.

``They do it because they can get away with it; they do it because it's the thing that allows them to do a good press release back home and be able to say to folks, `I'm delivering something for you,''' said Frank Clemente, a spokesman for the private watchdog group Public Citizen.

When Bush took office, he promised to cut pet projects from the federal budget, but the president has yet to veto a spending bill. He is expected to sign the new plan as well.

Within hours of the bill's passage, lawmakers were promoting the projects they had brought home to constituents. In federal budgets, what is derided as pork-barrel spending by one constituency is embraced by another as well-deserved local aid.

Oregon's senators, Democrat Ron Wyden and Republican Gordon Smith, put out an 11-page news release Sunday sharing credit for several hundred million dollars headed to their state. Projects the money will finance include ``wood utilization research,'' a barley gene-mapping project, remodeling of a cafeteria at Crater Lake National Park and the West Coast Groundfish Observers undertaking.

Ohio Reps. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a Democrat, and Steven LaTourette, a Republican, boasted about the $350,000 for music education programs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Nicole Williams, a spokeswoman for Tubbs Jones, said another lawmaker requested the funding but Tubbs Jones supported it. With a deficit in Cleveland's public school system and music education among the programs being cut, the museum funding could benefit the city as a whole, Williams said.

Alaska Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens claimed credit for channeling federal money to the state's salmon industry, including the money to research use of salmon as a base for baby food.

``The goal is to increase the market for salmon by encouraging the production of more `value-added' salmon products,'' Murkowski's office said in a written statement.

Michigan's two Democratic senators, Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, released a statement Monday with news that they had won $4 million for an environmentally friendly public transportation system in Traverse City.

``The population of Traverse City, which is approximately 150,000, swells to nearly 250,000 during summer months, and this influx of tourists puts strains on the local infrastructure,'' their release said. ``The traffic congestion and related pollution has increased the demand for a public transportation system that does not increase diesel emissions or noise in the community.''

Sen. Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican who serves on the Appropriations Committee, won dozens of special items for his state, enough to fill 20 news releases.

In a release aimed at northern Alabama, Shelby took credit for $4 million budgeted for the fertilizer development center: ``In addition to the important research conducted at this facility, the facility employs numerous Muscle Shoals-area residents.''

Many of the special items that made the cut were promoted by lobbyists hired by interest groups, companies or communities to convince lawmakers that money was needed for their projects.

``All members of Congress have many more requests than they could ever honor, so it's the job of the lobbyists to bring those reasons to the member, to educate them about the nature of the request and why it's important,'' said Jim Albertine, a lobbyist who successfully pressed for research and development money for the superconductor industry.

``No, a bike trail in X, Y, Z part of the country doesn't benefit the country as a whole, but the people in that district or community (also) put their money into the pot,'' he said.

The targeted spending was so prolific that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., had no problem filling a half-hour floor speech with examples before the Senate vote on the measure, such as a plan for $1 million for the Wild American Shrimp Initiative.

``I am hoping that the appropriators could explain to me why we need $1 million for this - are American shrimp unruly and lacking initiative? Why does the U.S. taxpayer need to fund this `no shrimp left behind' act?'' McCain asked his colleagues.

McCain's query went unanswered in part because spending documents don't identify who proposed each item or why.

OK, so why don't people get worked up about this? Why does gay marriage make it onto talk radio as a hot topic while people just shrug at this shit?

[Faram]

It is so much easier to get worked up about gay marriage and other easy to comprehend issues.

This would require some thought and people is lazy and accept whatever FOX says is ok.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Because our system of government is broken and our populace useless.

[BoredShirtless]

Because some of the shit is actually good and useful for the target community; if Missuri has a wild hog problem, then it should be fixed if they think it neccessary. Also it's hard to get too worked up over superficial bullshit like a Rock and Roll meuseum when it's surronded by userful stuff.

[Beowulf]

Because everyone wants the government to pay for stuff that benefits them, and can't reasonably denounce the pork with out being called hypocritical.

[Sir Sirius]

Homophobia is mostly a culturaly conditioned emotional reaction (a meme of sorts), it requires little or no actual thought or work to invoke. Things like fiscal politics and economy do require people to use their brains and think, making it much to get the voters to care about such issues.

Try and cram the content of the article above in to an eight second sound bite, hard isn't it? Now think of all the ways you can attack gay marriage in eight seconds or less.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Because some of the shit is actually good and useful for the target community; if Missuri has a wild hog problem, then it should be fixed if they think it neccessary. Also it's hard to get too worked up over superficial bullshit like a Rock and Roll meuseum when it's surronded by userful stuff.

Why the fuck should the Federal Government be so worried about Missouri's wild hog problem?

This is why it is pork barrel spending. The fucking State of Missouri should raise taxes and vote to work on their hog problem, not sucker money from the entire country for something which we do not really support.

[Admiral Valdemar]

This is AMERICA! They can't run out of money, that's just silly.

[BoredShirtless]

Because some of the shit is actually good and useful for the target community; if Missuri has a wild hog problem, then it should be fixed if they think it neccessary. Also it's hard to get too worked up over superficial bullshit like a Rock and Roll meuseum when it's surronded by userful stuff.

Why the fuck should the Federal Government be so worried about Missouri's wild hog problem?

Because hogs destroy crops or some other exported resource? Because Missouri still falls under the jurastiction of the Federal Government and therefore "because it can"? Because the state asked the fed for some help? So many reasons.

http://www.agfc.com/rules_regs/hunting_regs_feral.html

This is why it is pork barrel spending. The fucking State of Missouri should raise taxes and vote to work on their hog problem, not sucker money from the entire country for something which we do not really support.

Why wouldn't you support the containment and/or elimination of a pest? It's in your interest to care about other states if they are having a problem.

[Beowulf]

Because some of the shit is actually good and useful for the target community; if Missuri has a wild hog problem, then it should be fixed if they think it neccessary. Also it's hard to get too worked up over superficial bullshit like a Rock and Roll meuseum when it's surronded by userful stuff.

Why the fuck should the Federal Government be so worried about Missouri's wild hog problem?

Because hogs destroy crops or some other exported resource? Because Missouri still falls under the jurastiction of the Federal Government and therefore "because it can"? Because the state asked the fed for some help? So many reasons.

http://www.agfc.com/rules_regs/hunting_regs_feral.html

This is why it is pork barrel spending. The fucking State of Missouri should raise taxes and vote to work on their hog problem, not sucker money from the entire country for something which we do not really support.

Why wouldn't you support the containment and/or elimination of a pest? It's in your interest to care about other states if they are having a problem.

It's a local problem. Let the local government take care of it. Pig hunting season, anyone?

[BoredShirtless]

It's a local problem. Let the local government take care of it. Pig hunting season, anyone?

Right but seriously if hogs are destroying crops exported to other countries then it is also a federal problem.

[Xenophobe3691]

Why the fuck should the Federal Government be so worried about Missouri's wild hog problem?

Because hogs destroy crops or some other exported resource? Because Missouri still falls under the jurastiction of the Federal Government and therefore "because it can"? Because the state asked the fed for some help? So many reasons.

http://www.agfc.com/rules_regs/hunting_regs_feral.html

That's what federalism is for! The States are almost as damn good as the federal government, and they have the tools to deal with it, so they should.

[BoredShirtless]

For all we know that money could have gone towards programs to co-ordinate Missori and neighbouring states in order to eliminate the hog threat as it's crossed state borders.

[Slartibartfast]

It's like asking City Hall money to fix your VCR.

[Col. Crackpot]

Pork Barrel Spending: Not Just For Liberals Anymore!

the best example was when Trent Lott managed to sneak contruction contracts for 2 Wasp class LHD's into the budget a few years back. That way his good ol' boys at Ingallis Shipyards had something to do. See, that gives you a good perspective on the scope of the problem. A Senator was able to tack on TWO FUCKING AIRCRAFT CARRIERS that the Navy didn't even want into the budget.

[Gil Hamilton]

As much as I like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I don't see why they should be getting $350k from the government. Congratulations, people who voted Bush because they thought he was fiscally conservative! You got what you wanted.

[Joe]

As much as I like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I don't see why they should be getting $350k from the government. Congratulations, people who voted Bush because they thought he was fiscally conservative! You got what you wanted.

What, would pork barrel spending have grinded to a sudden halt if only Kerry had been elected President?

[Gil Hamilton]

What, would pork barrel spending have grinded to a sudden halt if only Kerry had been elected President?

I don't see Kerry mentioned at all in this thread. What is it with you that whenever you hear criticism of a Republican, your immediate response is to go "Well, <insert Democrat> is bad too!" I'm suprise you didn't figure out a way to worm Bill Clinton into your post too.

[Phil Skayhan]

OK, so why don't people get worked up about this? Why does gay marriage make it onto talk radio as a hot topic while people just shrug at this shit?

I have heard talk radio speak on this (Ingraham or Hannity, I think) saying that it's high time for the President to finally exercise his veto and send this back to Congress.

It's seems that ever since the Republicans under Gingrich overplayed thier hand during the budget battle in 1995, they've been just as eager to pork up the budget as the Democrats.

[Col. Crackpot]

As much as I like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I don't see why they should be getting $350k from the government. Congratulations, people who voted Bush because they thought he was fiscally conservative! You got what you wanted.

so Bush in in Congress now? When did that happen?

[Beowulf]

What, would pork barrel spending have grinded to a sudden halt if only Kerry had been elected President?

I don't see Kerry mentioned at all in this thread. What is it with you that whenever you hear criticism of a Republican, your immediate response is to go "Well, <insert Democrat> is bad too!" I'm suprise you didn't figure out a way to worm Bill Clinton into your post too.

I see you talking about the recent election, and how Bush getting elected was a bad thing. Since the only real competitor for Bush was Kerry...

[Raptor 597]

Pork Barrel Spending: Not Just For Liberals Anymore!

the best example was when Trent Lott managed to sneak contruction contracts for 2 Wasp class LHD's into the budget a few years back. That way his good ol' boys at Ingallis Shipyards had something to do. See, that gives you a good perspective on the scope of the problem. A Senator was able to tack on TWO FUCKING AIRCRAFT CARRIERS that the Navy didn't even want into the budget.

Haha, our Louisiana legislators and enators are simply the best at pork barrelling. Huey Long and his brother Russell really got the ball rolling, siphoning off untold funds for backroom deals. I only wish Senator Breaux had stayed in or if Chris John could have been elected and pork barrel useless items; unlike this new asshole David Vitter who will want to pork barrel anti-abortion and creationist campaigns, fucking fundie shithole.

[Col. Crackpot]

Haha, our Louisiana legislators and enators are simply the best at pork barrelling. Huey Long and his brother Russell really got the ball rolling, siphoning off untold funds for backroom deals. I only wish Senator Breaux had stayed in or if Chris John could have been elected and pork barrel useless items; unlike this new asshole David Vitter who will want to pork barrel anti-abortion and creationist campaigns, fucking fundie shithole.

ba! I've got you beat! Rhode Island has a rep on Appropriations. He is none other than Ted Kennedy's son, Patrick. Scary things happen when Kennedy's get seats on the appropriations comittee.

*sits and awaits the arrivial of gold plated toilet seats for the Transgenderd Handicapped Left-Handed African American History Center

[Joe]

I don't see Kerry mentioned at all in this thread. What is it with you that whenever you hear criticism of a Republican, your immediate response is to go "Well, <insert Democrat> is bad too!" I'm suprise you didn't figure out a way to worm Bill Clinton into your post too.

Well, I'm sorry, but the substance of your post seemed to imply that things could somehow be going differently if Bush hadn't been elected President. When you sarcastically imply that somehow this year's pork barrel spending is the fault of Bush when it clearly is not, do you not expect people to call you on it?

[Guardsman Bass]

As bad as the spending is, it does make some legislative compromises possible- X senator may vote for your bill if it includes goat-farm subsidies.

That's probably why the line-item veto failed; the Prez could just veto his opponents' pork, then they couldn't go back to the Legislature to argue for it, because it WAS pork.