Congress Goes Hog-Wild
Flush with "surplus" tax dollars, Congress has gone hog-wild this year with
an incredible increase in pork barrel-spending. So charges Citizens Against
Government Waste, a private watchdog group that documents and exposes
wasteful government spending.
According to the new edition of the group's annual "Pig Book," pork
spending is up by an astounding 47% over last year. All told, Congress
earmarked $17.7 billion for such projects for fiscal 2000 - the largest
amount since Citizens Against Government Waste began tracking pork in 1991.
The "Pig Book" includes over 4,300 items that meet at least one of the
following criteria for pork:
- Serve only a local or special interest;
- Not be subjected to a public hearing;
- Not be competitively awarded;
- Requested by only one chamber of Congress;
- Bypass the regular congressional authorizing process;
- Not be part of the president's budget; or,
- Greatly exceed the president's budget or the past year's allocation.
Both Democrats and Republicans engaged in the orgy of pork spending, with
the most powerful members of Congress naturally taking home the most bacon.
Top pork procurer was Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who is, appropriately
enough, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) got a $375 million
amphibious assault ship project for his home district -- despite the Navy's
request that older carriers be renovated instead.
House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Missouri) grabbed $275 million for
five F-15 fighter planes to be built in his district - even though the
Pentagon had not sought the planes.
(Source: Citizens Against Government Waste; Atlanta Constitution)
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