Republicans lead "pork" spending lists: report

Wed Apr 2, 2008 3:52pm EDT
By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. Congress, trying to appear frugal with taxpayer dollars this election year, found on Wednesday that some in their own ranks topped a list of "pork" spenders in a watchdog group's analysis of government waste.

The annual survey by Citizens Against Government Waste claims that 11,610 special-interest projects were stuffed into spending bills approved by the Democratic-led Congress last year at a $17.2 billion cost to taxpayers.

But according to the survey, it was individual Republicans who pushed the most "pork" last year. In addition, the three House of Representative Republicans who sponsored legislation calling for a moratorium on such spending all engaged in the practice, the report said. They are Jack Kingston of Georgia, Zach Wamp of Tennessee and Frank Wolf of Virginia.

For months, House Republican Leader John Boehner has been leading a crusade against such projects, known as "earmarks," which routinely benefit lawmakers' hometown districts.

Boehner, of Ohio, has called for suspending "pork" spending this year and has criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, for not yet agreeing to do so.

On Tuesday, House Republicans tried and failed to advance their earmark moratorium. Last month, the Senate overwhelmingly rejected a similar proposal.

House Republicans have attacked Democratic Rep. John Murtha for delivering a pile of special-interest funds to his western Pennsylvania district.

But according to the report, two House Republicans bested Murtha: Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who recently became a U.S. senator, and Rep. Bill Young of Florida. The two scored $176.3 million and $169.5 million in earmarks respectively, beating Murtha's $159.1 million.

'BRIDGE TO NOWHERE'

In the Senate, the top three spenders were Republicans, who together scored about $1.8 billion in home-state projects. Those senators are Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Richard Shelby of Alabama and Ted Stevens of Alaska, who was roundly criticized a few years back for winning approval of a "bridge to nowhere," and has been reported to be the target of a federal corruption probe.

All the top spenders are members of the House and Senate Appropriations committees, which dole out federal dollars.

Opponents of the special-interest projects argue that they do not receive adequate oversight by Congress and often are inserted into legislation at the last minute.

Many lawmakers who back earmarks say they help deliver jobs and public works projects to hometowns. They also point out that the funds represent less than 1 percent of federal spending and that reforming other parts of the budget would be more meaningful.

Suspected earmark abuse has led to some reforms, including making the spending more open to public and congressional scrutiny.

Among the "pork" outlined in the watchdog group's latest report:

--$123,050 secured by Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, for a Mother's Day shrine;

--$3 million by House Majority Whip James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, for The First Tee, which aims to promote the game of golf among young people. The money was inserted into a military spending bill;

--$188,000 by Maine's Republican senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Democratic Rep. Thomas Allen to help the Lobster Institute, which the report said is working on a "Lobster Cam" and developing lobster dog biscuits.

As for the three U.S. senators running for president: Republican John McCain had no earmarks last year, while Democrats Hillary Clinton delivered 281 projects to her home state of New York, costing $296.2 million, and Barack Obama had 53 projects totaling $97.4 million.

(Editing by Vicki Allen)

CAPITOL HILL GETS A GREEN MAKEOVER - At Least 45 years to pay off the cost.

Nancy Pelosi has been on this tear since she took office to "Green the Capitol." Now the Congress is forced to eat expensive organic food, the House is purchasing carbon offsets for its greenhouse-gas emissions, and the list of absurdities goes on and on. Her latest project is to install energy efficient lighting around the Capitol exterior. Nancy's spokesman Drew Hammill says that this project is not about the money ... since when are they ever concerned about money? But the new lights bring our "beacon of democracy" in line with other landmarks and will be "a beacon to all reminding us of the need to address the global climate crisis."

Gag. Maybe she should just introduce a resolution telling the sun to stop churning out so much solar radiation right now. Perhaps that would help.

So this is as far as Congress will go to adhere to Nancy's quest to combat global warming. The contract to design the lighting system was directed by Representative Robert Brady, a Democrat from Pennsylvania and chairman of the House Administration Committee. Well guess who happens to win the bid for the design project ... the Lighting Practice of Philadelphia, which also happens to be in Brady's district. Convenient? You might say so, considering that two lower bids were rejected before settling on this company's price of $671,900. That's right. All of that tax payer money just to make the Capitol lighting "eco-friendly."

Now are you ready for the real kicker ... the current annual electric bill for lighting the exterior of the Capitol eight hours every night is $15,000. So even if the new lights miraculously reduced energy consumption to zero, it would take the tax payers more than 45 years just to recoup the money it cost to build the new system, if we compare the cost to the current electric bill.

That, my friends, is the definition of a government project.

Distracting Billboard Talks About Road Distractions

The taxpayers of Milwaukee paid for a hideous and distracting billboard in order to remind people about the dangers of distractions while driving.

Keep your eyes on the road? A billboard reminding drivers of the danger of distractions, is itself turning some heads.



Oh, if you are wondering; Milwaukee Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is a Democrat

He dries (with a little help from his friend)

He dries (with a little help from his friend)
$1M earmark boon to ex-rep’s home
Dave Wedge By Dave Wedge
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1083143

U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt(D) has pushed through $1.1 million in federal earmarks for a controversial Cohasset pond clean-up meant to stop flooding in a pricey waterfront neighborhood where his former congressman pal lives, the Herald has learned.

The taxpayer-funded project would convert Treat’s Pond from fresh to salt water but would also alleviate widespread flooding on Atlantic Avenue, where Delahunt’s longtime friend, former U.S. Rep. Amory “Amo” Houghton, 81, lives part time in an a historic estate with his wife, Priscilla.

“There’s terrible flooding down there that not only affects my wife’s house, but many houses down there,” Houghton, a Republican from New York who left the House in 2005, told the Herald. “Somebody’s got to do something.”

The project dates back to 2003 ,when Delahunt and Houghton met informally with members of the Army Corps of Engineers shortly before Congress approved $300,000 for a study of the pond. During two of the meetings, Priscilla Houghton served croissants to the engineers, according to internal ACE e-mails obtained by the Herald.

Since those early meetings, Delahunt has secured $1.1 million in federal earmarks for the $1.7 million project, which is part of an ongoing federal salt marsh restoration effort.

The project calls for a new pipeline into the nearby harbor to allow salt water to circulate into the pond to improve the ecosystem. The new pipe would also reduce flooding in the area.

But opponents say the project is a sham because the pond has been freshwater for as long as anyone can remember. Critics also point out that Selectman Robert Dormitzer, who supports the project, also lives on Atlantic Avenue.

“Treat’s Pond has always been freshwater. It’s been sleight of hand to call it a salt water restoration project,” said opponent Peter Whittemore, who lives in the neighborhood. “It’s a flood control project for two very connected, very well-off politicians.”

The plan has hit a snag because the town needs to come up with $300,000. If that happens, the state could be asked to chip in the other $300,000. Cohasset voters will decide Saturday whether to approve their share.

Houghton, the wealthy former head of Corning Glass company, acknowledged he met with officials while he was in Congress to try to obtain federal money for the pond but denied any personal motivation.

“I really don’t benefit from this. It’s a community issue and Priscilla happens to be a part of this thing,” he said. “I talked to people (in Washington) and said if there was any extra money available, I would help Bill Delahunt out.”

Delahunt spokesman Mark Forest said the congressman handled the project like any other federal aid request and noted that it had to meet strict guidelines, including a requirement for local funding.

“The federal funds are available ,but if the town does not approve the project then nothing goes forward,” Forest said.