Originally Posted By TomSawyer The number of pork project spending in the Federal budget has more than doubled since Bush took office, with the sharpest increase coming since the GOP took over Congress. According to a new book, "Downsizing the Federal Government" by Chris Edwards, the following numbers show the number of pork projects in the federal budget since 1995. 2005 - 13,997 2004 - 10,656 2003 - 9,362 2002 - 8,341 2001 - 6,333 2000 - 4,326 1999 - 2,838 1998 - 2100 1997 - 1,596 1996 - 958 1995 - 1439 <a href="http://www.clubforgrowth.org/blog/archives/026385.php" target="_blank">http://www.clubforgrowth.org/b log/archives/026385.php</a>
Originally Posted By friendofdd Make you feel good to know that our elected representatives are always remembering the folks at home, doesn't it?
Originally Posted By wahooskipper If you dive into the CAGW figures futher you will find that the KING OF PORK is Robert Byrd (D) of West Virginia. In 2005 he wrestled $399 million dollars in pork projects or $220/resident. In his lifetime he has obtained $1 billion in pork projects according to the same site. Among them: Robert C. Byrd Drive, from Beckley to Sophia (Byrd's hometown) Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center at Wheeling Jesuit University Robert C. Byrd Highway Robert C. Byrd Federal Correctional Institution Robert C. Byrd High School Robert C. Byrd Freeway Robert C. Byrd Center for Hospitality and Tourism Robert C. Byrd Science Center Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Center Robert C. Byrd Technology Center at Alderson-Broaddus College Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, near Princeton Robert C. Byrd Bridge between Huntington and Chesapeake, Ohio Robert C. Byrd addition to the lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Pine Grove Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships Robert C. Byrd Expressway, U.S. 52 near Weirton Robert C. Byrd Institute in Charleston Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center Robert C. Byrd Federal Building (there are two) Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex Robert C. Byrd Library and Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to the veteran's hospital in Huntington Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park, Hardy County Robert C. Byrd Scholastic Recognition Award Robert C. Byrd Community Center in the naval station, Sugar Grove Geez, those Republicans suck.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Too bad the GOP can't seem to stop an old man in the Senate. Unless they were too busy putting in the other 13,000 pork line items last year.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper The Democrats in the 90's didn't seem to be able to stop him either. The problem with pork, Tom, is that those projects are often added to projects behind closed doors and you don't often find out who did the dirty deed. There is no doubt in my mind that plenty of Republicans...and Democrats...are responsible for pork spending. In fact the same website states that no congressman/woman got a 100% score (in terms of responsibility to US citizens) in 2005 and only two congressmen/women attained that favorable score in 2004. Oh, and the two in 2004 were Republicans. As I've said, the US government needs no more of my money until they can better spend the money they are already taking. Yep...it's ME, ME, ME.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Why isn't the GOP-controlled Congress doing a better job of reigning in pork?
Originally Posted By RC Collins The answer is to elect Republicans who will really spend less, not to vote for Democrats we know will never try, except maybe in military and law enforcement issues.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Is anything being reigned in by Washington or by the members of either party? Campaign spending grows larger every year. Scandals continue every year. There are important projects that come out of Washington but they often don't get passed without the pork that people aren't willing to admit to. It is an environment that is out of control and if Democrats controlled Congress it wouldn't be any better.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <The answer is to elect Republicans who will really spend less, not to vote for Democrats we know will never try, except maybe in military and law enforcement issues.> You only "know" that via the prism of your bias, not reality. <It is an environment that is out of control and if Democrats controlled Congress it wouldn't be any better.> Ditto. Because, after all, when Democrats controlled congress it WAS better. Hardly pork-free. But better.
Originally Posted By AgentLaRue "The answer is to elect Republicans who will really spend less" Where do you find one of those? History has proven conclusively that the Republican motto that they somehow spend less is complete and utter b.s.
