April 25, 2003
PORK... AND BARRELS OF IT!
In honor of the taxes we paid on April 15, let's talk "pork." We knew that the unprovoked attack on Iraq would be expensive (what, $72 Billion at the last count), and maybe you don't mind paying for that, but did you know this year's war budget includes money for researching an eel in Lake Champlain?
This happens all the time. Even before the war, members of Congress slipped in their pet projects ó wherever they could.
Congress' pork barrel patrol, Citizens Against Government Waste, named Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) as its April 2003 Porker of the Month for strapping on the feedbag and earmarking emergency wartime funds to pay for an agricultural facility in his home state.
The stated purpose of President Bush's request for supplemental war funding was to support the Department of Defense operations in Iraq and the Department of Homeland Security. More specifically, "to provide our troops with the resources necessary to fight and win the war in Iraq, to respond to increased homeland security needs, and to strengthen the capabilities of our allies."
So how is it that the Ames, Iowa agricultural research station received a $98 million earmark in the supplemental war budget? According to Senator Harkin, these funds are crucial in order to combat bioterrorism in the form of animal diseases. He further went on to claim that the lab in Ames will be "one of the key elements in our national effort in the war on bioterrorism."
That's a bit of a stretch, Senator, and a disgrace as well. At a time of war, the nation looks to elected officials to set an example of leadership and an unwavering commitment to our men and women risking their lives overseas. Every dollar spent on pork barrel projects is a dollar that does not go to protect the nation and support our troops (not that I'm crazy about that, either).
Now is not the time to squander precious resources on pork projects, particularly when the Ames facility received a $33 million earmark less than eight weeks ago in the fiscal 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Senator Harkin also secured a $50 million earmark for this project in last year's supplemental appropriations bill, which was also intended to help fight the war on terrorism. Demonstrating the lack of need for more money, there was no request for any funds for this facility in the President's fiscal 2004 budget.
Why ship everyone's money to Washington, D.C., only to have it shipped back, minus handling costs to the most politically connected states? Maybe so politicians can use our money to do favors for friends, and suck up to those who might vote for them?
Posted by Mikal at April 25, 2003 5:15 AM
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