Fresh Pork - Where our $ is going

[soup]

WASHINGTON - Every year when Congress votes on federal spending, people complain the bills are so massive it's difficult to know what's inside. Some projects are described in such arcane language they can't be identified.

But this year, the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense has compiled a giant list of federal projects so everyone - including the senators who will vote on the bill next week - can see where the money would go. The list reveals an explosion of federal spending on everything from Disneyland buses to "stellar sea lions."

>snip<

The number of "earmarks" has skyrocketed in the past few years. For example, the 1995 transportation spending bill had 322 earmarks totalling $1.5-billion. In the current transportation bill, there are 2,179 earmarks costing $5.7-billion.<
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/16/Worldandnation/The_sea_lions_You_pai.shtml


>Fresh Pork
This database was compiled by the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense from the omnibus spending bill that will be considered by the Senate the week of Jan. 19. The bill has already been passed by the House. Below are the totals by division.<

Search by state or division here:
http://sptimes.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/FreshPork

[DarkPhenyx]

1. OK, I'll bite. What's an earmark?

On a slightly realted note. In Alabama teh State Senate opened it's session today with it's traditional dinner of wild boar. Isn't it ironically appropriate that they start off the next "spending spree" with a pork dinner?

[soup]

2. earmark

Definition: well, it's set aside for, it's planned for, it's - I'm fumbling, so went to the dictionary for clarity.


Related Terms: allocate, allot, appoint, appropriate to, aroma, assign, assign to, attribute, badge, banner, be characteristic, birthmark, blaze, blemish, blotch, brand, cachet, cast, caste mark, character, characteristic, characterize, check, checkmark, cicatrix, configuration, cut, dapple, define, demarcate, describe, destine, detail, device, differentia, differential, differentiate, discoloration, distinctive feature, distinguish, dot, engraving, fate, feature, figure, flavor, fleck, flick, freckle, gash, graving, gust, hack, hallmark, idiocrasy, idiosyncrasy, image, impress, impression, index, indicant, indicator, individualism, insignia, jot, keynote, label, lentigo, lineaments, lot, macula, make assignments, mannerism, mark, mark off, mark out, mark out for, marking, measure, mold, mole, mottle, nature, nevus, nick, notch, note, odor, ordain, particularity, patch, peculiarity, picture, point, polka dot, portion off, prick, property, puncture, quality, quirk, representation, representative, reserve, restrict, restrict to, savor, scar, scarification, schedule, score, scotch, scratch, scratching, seal, set, set apart, set aside, set off, set the pace, set the tone, shape, sigil, sign, signal, signature, singularity, smack, sound the keynote, specialty, speck, speckle, splash, splotch, spot, stain, stamp, stigma, strawberry mark, sure sign, symptom, tab, tag, taint, tang, taste, tattoo, tattoo mark, telltale sign, tick, ticket, tittle, token, trait, trick, watermark
http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/earmark

traditional dinner of wild boar. :-) now That's funny. (or not) So often I laugh at something until I sober up and think - jeesh, that's not funny at all.

[lovedems]

3. I looked up Texas to see what the crooks were up to and look at this

Sugarland Regional Airport gets 3,600,000 Compared to

Texas Children's Hospital only gets 350,00 and
a gang prevention program gets 202,000.

I guess we can see where there priorities are. I am not from Tx. by the way, just was curious since all the crooks in the WH are from TX. I am sure they are being well taken care of in this pork package.


Doesn't Tom Delay represent Sugarland?

[soup]

4. $7,400,000 earmarked for I-69

I'm not familiar with Texas highways, but your mention of Tom DeLay representing Sugarland piqued my curiosity.

There is no love lost for DeLay on this blogspot. Is even 1/2 of this true? Ouch:

snip> But the biggest potential payoff for the DeLays could come from old-fashioned government pork. Plans are under way to build a U.S.-Mexico NAFTA "superhighway" through Texas, and boosters of two alternate routes are vying for that designation -- and the estimated $25-$50 billion in federal funds and commercial development that will go with it. One option is a proposed Interstate 69, which would follow the path of the existing U.S. Highway 59 through DeLay's district and on to Louisiana and Indianapolis.

Tom DeLay is co-chair of the Congressional I-69 Caucus, which has 36 members in the House and Senate. In the fall of 1995, he inserted language in the National Highway System bill designating part of U.S. 59 as Interstate 69. "Interstates bring with them economic growth and development," reads a statement released by DeLay. "The construction of I-69 through Houston brings these opportunities to the 5.5 million people living and working in Texas."

Again, what the statement did not mention is that Randy DeLay lobbied heavily for I-69 and receives at least $15,000 per month from pro-I-69 interests, including Pharr Economic Development Corporation and the I-69 Mid-Continent Highway Coalition.

Tom DeLay admitted to the National Journal that he has worked with his brother on the cement tariff and the I-69 proj-ect, but scoffed at intimations that this might constitute a conflict of interest, claiming his brother hadn't been treated "any differently" from other lobbyists. (DeLay declined to respond to Mother Jones' inquiries about the rail merger and the sports franchise resolution.)< snip
http://tomdelaywhore.blogspot.com/2002_07_01_tomdelaywhore_archive.html

Does the $7,400,000 allocated for this year have any tie-ins to this? or is this just old news?

[Nevernose]

5. I'm employed under one of the grants listed

For Nevada. Federal funding has been cut almost 50% since King George ascended the throne.

*sigh*

http://www.sptimes.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/FreshPork.woa/1/wo/y7ACKbnIhn9kUL1fbDHyoM/0.5

[Buffler]

6. The amount of money

being spent by the federal government on things that it shouldn't be spending money on is staggering.