Interest group says pork-barrel spending has hit record high

Citizens Against Government Waste, a Washington-based interest group, Tuesday released its 2002 "Pig Report" showing that pork barrel spending increased 9 percent to a record $20.1 billion in fiscal 2002 spending measures, and the number of pork projects increased 13 percent to 8,341.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said one of the main reasons behind the increases is "war profiteering," as senators use the war on terrorism as an excuse to spend more money.

McCain, who frequently criticizes appropriations bills that he feels are loaded with unnecessary spending, said that was particularly true in the 2002 Defense appropriations bill, which he said always has more "pork" than any other bill.

Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., said the spending "has gotten out of hand," adding there are "numerous examples where we've lost ground" in the fight to end unnecessary spending.

Despite saying that he "has failed" in this fight, McCain expressed some confidence for the future.

"There's some unrest out there," he said. "I think we will prevail over time."