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If one thing is clear from Citizens Against Government Waste’s new Pig Book, it’s that Obama war on pork was a big clunker.The non-partisan group counted $16.5 billion in congressional earmarks for FY2010.
Pork is down 10% from last year, but “it’s still above the historical average, and it’s still not at the level that President Obama promised when he took office, which is $7.8 billion,” said CAGW president Tom Schatz.
There’s still plenty of ridiculous, obnoxious pork.
Here’s the worst of this year’s Pig Book >
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[slide
permalink=”50000-for-helicopter-improvements-at-a-small-town-sheriffs-office-1″
title=”$50,000 for helicopter improvements at a small-town sheriff’s office”
content=”Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act
Porker: Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.)
From the Pig Book: $50,000 by House appropriator Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) for the Pulaski County Sheriff Department for helicopter improvements.“
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[slide
permalink=”98257-for-a-shuttle-from-a-congressmans-hometown-to-dc-2″
title=”$98,257 for a shuttle from a congressman’s hometown to D.C.”
content=”Hidden in: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act
Porker: Rep. James Moran (D-Va.)
From the Pig Book: $98,257 by House appropriator James Moran (D-Va.) in SBA money for the Georgetown Metro Connection, a bus service that runs from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. to the neighbourhood of Dupont Circle in D.C. and to Rosslyn, Virginia, conveniently located in Rep. Moran’s district.“
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[slide
permalink=”190000-to-digitize-photos-at-the-ritzy-new-york-historical-society-3″
title=”$190,000 to digitize photos at the ritzy New York Historical Society”
content=”Hidden in: Legislative Branch Appropriations Act
Porkers: Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
From the Pig Book: $190,000 by Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) for digitization of the New York Historical Society Collection. According to the group’s website, corporate sponsors of $30,000 or more are entitled to “Free admission to the Historical Society (includes special exhibitions) for all employees and up to 3 guests each and a 10% discount at the Historical Society gift shop; 50 (50) free admission passes to the New York Historical Society for clients/guests (each pass good for up to 2 individuals) and includes all special exhibitions; 20 five (25) complimentary tickets to Society evening public programs; Discounted tickets to the annual Strawberry Festival luncheon; Discounted tickets to the annual History Makers Gala Benefit; Two (2) invitations to a ‘Dinner with History’; these intimate dinners for 12-15 guests feature an eminent historian and New York Historical Society President Louise Mirrer; and Invitations to annual pre-Thanksgiving balloon inflation viewing event and reception; and a Listing in Annual Report and donor listing on website.” Taxpayers receive historic deficits and debt. At the end of 2006, the Society had a fund balance of $58 million; $190,000 represents .3 per cent of that amount, or 6.1 corporate sponsors.“
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[slide
permalink=”200000-for-a-tattoo-removal-program-in-california-4″
title=”$200,000 for a tattoo removal program in California”
content=”Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act
Porker: Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.)
From the Pig Book: $200,000 by Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) for the Providence Holy Cross Foundation tattoo removal violence prevention program in Mission Hills. In fiscal 2002 there was a $50,000 earmark for a tattoo removal program in San Luis Obispo, in the district of Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.). It is now time for a pork removal program.“
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[slide
permalink=”238000-to-teach-alaska-parents-about-no-child-left-bhind-5″
title=”$238,000 to teach Alaska parents about No Child Left Bhind”
content=”Hidden in: labour/HHS Appropriations Act
Porkers: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
From the Pig Book: $238,000 by Senate appropriator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) for the Alaska PTA in Anchorage to “train parents in their roles and responsibilities under the No Child Left Behind Act.”“
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permalink=”245643-for-an-arkansas-truck-driving-school-6″
title=”$245,643 for an Arkansas truck driving school”
content=”Hidden in: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act
Porker: Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.)
From the Pig Book: $245,643 by House appropriator Marion Berry (D-Ark.) for the Arkansas Commercial Driver Training Institute at Arkansas State University-Newport, funded through the SBA. According to a February 27, 2009 press release on Rep. Berry’s website, the Commercial Driver Training Institute “is a national leader in entry-level and enhanced commercial driver training for the over-the-road sector of the transportation industry. Funds will be utilized to improve ASU-Newport’s Driver Skills Training Range.”“
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permalink=”254000-grant-for-the-montana-sheep-institute-7″
title=”$254,000 grant for the Montana Sheep Institute”
content=”Hidden in: Agriculture Appropriations Bill
Porkers: Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.)
From the Pig Book: $254,000 by Senate appropriator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) for the Montana Sheep Institute. According to the organisation’s website, “The Montana Sheep Institute (MSI) is a cooperative project between Montana Wool Growers Association and Montana State University. The MSI is dedicated to developing and implementing nontraditional adjustment strategies that will increase the competitiveness of Montana’s lamb and wool in the world market. Our goal is to explore opportunities to increase the utilization of sheep in weed management programs and improve the profitability and competitiveness of theMontana Sheep Industry.” Since 2002, CAGWhas uncovered seven earmarks worth $3,033,950 for theMontana Sheep Institute. This is money b-a-a-a-a-a-a-dly spent. “
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[slide
permalink=”300000-to-preserve-the-final-resting-place-for-hawaiian-royalty-8″
title=”$300,000 to preserve the ‘final resting place for Hawaiian royalty'”
content=”Hidden in: Interior appropriations
Porker: Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
From the Pig Book: $13,650,000 for nine projects by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), including: $7,000,000 for the James Campbell Wildlife Refuge; $750,000 for the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology; $500,000 for the Native Hawaiian culture and arts program; and $300,000 for the Royal Mausoleum (Mauna ‘Ala), the final resting place for most of Hawaiian royalty. According to several online resources, Mauna ‘Ala is the only place in Hawaii where the state flag flies alone without the U.S. flag. “
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[slide
permalink=”500000-for-a-virtual-space-exhibition-9″
title=”$500,000 for a virtual space exhibition”
content=”Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act
Porker: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas)
From the Pig Book: $500,000 by Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) for the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation in Houston to create “a virtual space community for students.”“
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permalink=”500000-to-maintain-a-ww1-statue-in-france-10″
title=”$500,000 to maintain a WW1 statue… in France!”
content=”Hidden in: Military Construction Appropriation
Porkers: Reps. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.)
From the Pig Book: $500,000 by Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) for the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-La-Coquette, France. Established in 1930, the Lafayette Escadrille is a monument dedicated to the U.S. pilots who flew for France prior to America’s entry in World War I.“
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[slide
permalink=”900000-for-obamas-notorious-planetarium-11″
title=”$900,000 for Obama’s notorious planetarium”
content=”Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act
Porkers: Reps. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.)
From the Pig Book: $900,000 by Reps. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), and then-Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) for equipment for the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum in Chicago. In a March 13, 2009 article in the Chicago Tribune jabs were exchanged in reference to the project when Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) referred to the project as an overhead projector. According to the article, “The machine is actually a sophisticated $3 million to $5 million light-projection system that beams images of the stars, planets and galaxies onto the ceiling. The museum wants to spend millions to update its original, 78-year-old domed Sky theatre auditorium, including replacement of the huge, 40-year-old Zeiss planetarium projection system, which is falling into disrepair. The Zeiss machine is so old that the German manufacturer longer has employees who know how to fix it. … Most of the funding will come from private and corporate donations.” The Adler Planetarium’s 2007 tax return showed a fund balance of $31 million; the $900,000 taxpayer “contribution” represents less than 3 per cent of that amount.“
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[slide
permalink=”951500-for-green-street-lights-in-detroit-12″
title=”$951,500 for “green” street lights in Detroit”
content=”Hidden in: Energy and Water Appropriations Act
Porkers: Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
From the Pig Book: $951,500 by Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and House appropriator Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) for downtown Detroit energy efficient street lighting. That’s the least of the city’s problems.“
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[slide
permalink=”12-million-for-an-underwater-exploration-center-13″
title=”$1.2 million for an underwater exploration centre”
content=”Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act
Porkers: Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
From the Pig Book: $1,200,000 by Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and House CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), for equipment for at the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) Pell Library and Undersea Exploration centre. According to the Providence Journal, URI broke ground on the Undersea Exploration centre in 2007 after the state’s voters approved a $14 million bond measure for the project (at least Rhode Island taxpayers got to vote on whether or not to give money to the Exploration centre). The total cost of the Exploration centre was to be $15 million with the “remaining $1 million of the projected cost … secured through private donations.” Apparently, “private” means “taxpayers.“
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[slide
permalink=”13-million-to-a-museum-dedicated-to-pacific-northwest-naval-heritage-14″
title=”$1.3 million to a museum dedicated to Pacific Northwest naval heritage”
content=”Hidden in: DOD Appropriations
Porker: Norm Dicks (D-Wash.)
From the Pig Book: $1,280,000 by House defence Appropriations Subcommittee member Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) for the Puget Sound Navy Museum in Bremerton, Washington. Dedicated to “collecting, preserving, and interpreting the naval heritage of the Pacific Northwest for the benefit of the U.S. Navy and general public,” admission to the Puget Sound Navy Museum is free. Rep. Dicks directed $1 million to the museum in fiscal year 2008.“
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[slide
permalink=”124-million-for-tree-snake-control-in-guam-15″
title=”$1.24 million for tree snake control in Guam”
content=”Hidden in: DOD Appropriations Act
Porkers: Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam)
From the Pig Book: $1,240,000 for two projects for Brown Tree Snakes control and interdiction in Guam by Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam). Since 1996, 14 projects worth $14.6 million have been earmarked in Hawaii and Guam for interdiction of Brown Tree Snakes, which are still slithering through the appropriations bill.“
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[slide
permalink=”19-million-for-water-taxi-service-at-pleasure-beach-ct-16″
title=”$1.9 million for water taxi service at Pleasure Beach, CT”
content=”Hidden in: Transportation/Housing and Urban Development
Porker: Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.)
From the Pig Book: $1,900,000 by then-Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.) for the Pleasure Beach water taxi service project. In 1996, a fire destroyed a bridge providing access to the beach, near Bridgeport and Stratford. Although patrons can still walk to the beach from Stratford or row to it from Bridgeport, some community activists say a water taxi is needed. Stratford mayor James Miron doesn’t think so. He told the Stratford Star there’s no support for the bridge and the local government’s priority should be Bridgeport schools.“
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[slide
permalink=”3-million-for-a-project-to-distribute-nasa-images-17″
title=”$3 million for a project to distribute NASA images”
content=”Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act
Porkers: Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.)
From the Pig Book: $3,000,000 by Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) for the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks to help make data received from NASA satellite images more accessible to the public. Apparently the two senators have not heard of NASA TV. According to the NASA website, “The NASA TV Public and Educational channels are ‘free-to-air,’ meaning your cable or satellite service provider can carry them at no cost.” Interested viewers should contact their local cable or satellite service provider to get NASA TV, and ask the senators for a rebate of their share of that $3 million.“
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[slide
permalink=”38-million-to-save-part-of-a-baseball-stadium-from-demolition-for-the-memories-18″
title=”$3.8 million to save part of a baseball stadium from demolition… for the memories”
content=”Hidden in: Transportation/Housing and Urban Development
Porkers: Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.)
From the Pig Book: $3,800,000 by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) for the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy for preservation and redevelopment of a public park and related business activities in the Corktown neighbourhood. Michael LaFaive, a fiscal analyst with the free-market Mackinac centre for Public Policy in Midland, summed up the project’s problems in a Detroit Free Press article on January 27, 2009: “It’s not only irresponsible to redirect these precious resources to saving Tiger Stadium … it’s unfair to everyone with no voluntary connection to the stadium whatsoever. And that comes in the form of people who don’t like baseball, people who don’t go to the city of Detroit, people who have no desire to see what remains of the old stadium because of this rescue.”“
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[slide
permalink=”42-million-for-a-local-weapons-of-mass-destruction-support-team-19″
title=”$4.2 million for a local weapons of mass destruction support team”
content=”Hidden in: DOD Appropriations Act
Porker: Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.)
From the Pig Book: $114,800,000 for 53 projects by House defence Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Bill Young (R-Fla.), including: $4,500,000 for comprehensive maritime domain awareness, $2,400,000 for the Air Warrior-Joint Service Vacuum Packed Life Raft, and four projects for $4,200,000 for a Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team in Florida.“
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[slide
permalink=”97-million-to-save-hawaiian-sea-turtles-monk-seals-and-crustaceans-20″
title=”$9.7 million to save Hawaiian sea turtles, monk seals, and crustaceans”
content=”Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act
Porker: Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
From the Pig Book: $32,950,000 for 17 projects by Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), including: $7,100,000 for NOAA for the conservation and recovery of endangered Hawaiian sea turtle populations; $2,600,000 for NOAA for the conservation and recovery of the critically endangered monk seal population and conservation of Pacific crustaceans; $2,000,000 for the Imiloa Astronomy centre of Hawaii for the promotion of astronomy in Hawaii; $1,750,000 for the International Pacific Research centre at the University of Hawaii to conduct systematic and reliable climatographic research of the Pacific region; $1,500,000 for NOAA to create and implement an integrated system-wide ocean science education program piloted in Hawaii’s schools; $1,250,000 for the Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research at the University of Hawaii to conduct research on open ocean fisheries in the Pacific Ocean; and $700,000 for NOAA for the Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative at the University of Hawaii to support monitoring and research activities on Hawaii’s coral reefs.“
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[slide
permalink=”15-million-gift-for-ireland-21″
title=”$15 million gift for Ireland”
content=”Hidden in: State and Foreign Operations Appropriations
Porkers: Massachusetts?
From the Pig Book: $15,000,000 added by the House for the International Fund for Ireland (IFI). Established in 1986, IFI’s objectives are to “promote economic and social advance and to encourage contact, dialogue and reconciliation between nationalists and unionists throughout Ireland.” Projects funded by IFI in the past have included building a replica of the Jeanie Johnson (a Canadian ship that once ferried famine victims across the Atlantic), and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream stores. In his review of a glowing book about IFI released in January 2009, Sean Donlon stated, “While the fund will continue its work for the next couple of years it would be unreasonable to expect external support thereafter, especially in the current relatively stable political and security situation in Northern Ireland.” CAGW has identified $264 million for this project since 1995.“
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[slide
permalink=”27-million-for-a-tennessee-based-homeland-security-program-not-supported-by-the-dhs-22″
title=”$27 million for a Tennessee-based homeland security program (not supported by the DHS)”
content=”Hidden in: Homeland Security Appropriations Act
Porkers: Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
From the Pig Book: $27,000,000 by Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), then-Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee member Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) for the Southeast Region Research Initiative (SERRI) in Tennessee. The SERRI website says it “is a ground breaking program managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the US Department of Homeland Security to assist local, state and tribal leaders in developing the tools and methods required to anticipate and forestall terrorist events and to enhance disaster response. SERRI combines science and technology with validated operational approaches to address regionally unique requirements and suggest regional solutions with potential national implications.” DHS apparently does not believe SERRI is critical as there was no budget request for the program.“
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[slide
permalink=”278-million-to-build-fitness-centers-at-three-military-bases-23″
title=”$27.8 million to build fitness centres at three military bases”
content=”Hidden in: Military Construction Appropriation
Porkers: Congressmen in Texas, South Carolina, and Mississippi
From the Pig Book: $27,820,000 for three projects funding fitness centres: $11,580,000 by Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas) for a fitness centre at Naval Air Station Kingsville; $9,900,000 by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.) for a physical fitness centre at Shaw Air Force Base; and $6,340,000 by Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Rep. Charles “Chip” Pickering (R-Miss.) for a fitness centre at Meridian Naval Air Station. The YMCA in Sumter, South Carolina, near Shaw Air Force Base charges $46.13 per month for an adult fitness membership, while an unlimited membership at Rec World in Meridian costs $50 per month.“
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[slide
permalink=”442-million-to-build-chapels-at-six-military-bases-24″
title=”$44.2 million to build chapels at six military bases”
content=”Hidden in: Military Construction Appropriation
Porkers: Congressmen in Texas, North Carolina, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky
From the Pig Book: $44,230,000 for six projects funding chapels: $17,500,000 by House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Chet Edwards (D-Texas) and House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member John Carter (R-Texas) for a chapel with an education centre at Fort Hood; $11,600,000 by Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) for a chapel at Fort Bragg; $6,800,000 by then-Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) for a chapel centre at Fort Rucker; $4,200,000 by Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and then-Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.) for Phase Two of a chapel complex at Fort Leavenworth; $3,500,000 by Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) for a chapel complex at Fort Leonard Wood; and $630,000 by Senate appropriators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Sens. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), House appropriator Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), and Reps. John Tanner (D-Tenn.) and Edward Whitfield (R-Ky.) for a chapel centre in Fort Campbell.“
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[slide
permalink=”465-million-for-continued-development-of-an-obsolete-fighter-engine-25″
title=”$465 million for continued development of an obsolete fighter engine”
content=”Hidden in: DOD Appropriations
Porker: Unspecified
From the Pig Book: $465,000,000 for the continued development of the F-136 engine as an alternative engine in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The JSF is $55 billion over its budgeted cost, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Congress has added funding for an additional engine in order to supposedly increase competition and flexibility for pilots. However, according to a February 24, 2009 United Press International article, the money was allotted, “despite the fact that the winning engine had already prevailed in half a dozen public and private competitions and despite the fact that no other part of the plane would be competed once production commenced.” CBS News reported on July 30, 2007 that the Air Force and two independent panels concluded that the second engine is “not necessary and not affordable” and that the professed savings from competition “will never be achieved.” No wonder that all 435 representatives and 100 senators refused to be identified with this massive waste of tax dollars.“
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permalink=”dont-miss-26″
title=”Don’t miss…”
content=”Meet The Porkers: 20 Politicians Who Know How To Bring It Home For Their District“
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