Return to Article: Congress still pigging out on pork-barrel projects: watchdog group
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67587
you can, its on cagw.org (citizens against government waste) they have it in alphabetical order and money order
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60334
I wish I could find a list (without editorial coment)of earmarks -- related or unrelated -- contained in legislation during the fiscal year 2007-2008.
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49005
"Flat tax!" I've heard the cry and think there is potential... but I don't think it will really amount to much. Why you ask?
1. We're spending WAY more than the current taxes are bringing in.
2. To be truly effective, any Flat Tax law would have to be coupled with something like the old (and currently totally ignored) "Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985" (aka Gramm-Rudman Act).
3. If our taxes are set, unwaverable and equitable across the board; there would be no graft for the politicians to coax the special interest groups with.
4. "Down with Pork!" Ah, the hue and cry of the unwashed mass, with whom I must identify with... But soon, would we hear the song "What have you done for me lately?!" coming from the home front of every congressional district?
Why else do we elect our representatives? To take care of someone else? The greatest, largest special interest group are the voting constituents of our own congressional districts.
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48178
Flat tax! Everybody pays the same with no pork allowed to be attached to bills!
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48119
I've said it time and again...the time has come for term limits of Congress and a direct vote in which 'the people' either accept or reject the referendum for 'term limits' of Congress. If the overall consensus is for 'term limits', then Congress has not only no say in the matter but, no secret midnight votes. Otherwise, without term limits the oinkers will continue in the same manner blowing hard earned tax dollars of constituents to hell and back.
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48101
I am an angry white male who is fed up with what is withheld from my paycheck going to "earmarks and other things I personally detest". I am now in support of term limits for congress. It is the only way to get rid of these porkers as they use the pork to buy votes. They need to attend to passing real legislation to help the country like the Fair Tax, close the borders and force enforcement of immigration laws and there should be no retirement other than social security for congressmen. Elected officials do not need to rob our social security for their and illegal immigrants retirement.
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48001
Rep. Harry Mitchell, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs subcommittee on oversight, said he would question VA officials about the purchases at a hearing set for July. Mitchell, D-Ariz., said he feared there may be "a growing culture of wasteful spending at the VA." This from a guy who supports PORK!!! you two faced *** wipe. from politico "Harry Mitchell Votes for Pork Over Nation's Security" this is the pot calling the kettle black.
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47955
Who is anybody kidding ? This is just a ploy to get re-elected and then the pork flood gates will once again open full force. If you want more of the same then vote for McCain.
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47945
Thank you, Tom, for that consideration. I must admit that your comment made me take a step back. I suppose I've been a tad reactionary to ... certain parties in these discussions. Polarization becomes all too easy when there is plenty to point fingers at on both sides.
If the facts of this article check out, the current Blue Dog Congress is the highest porker in both number of projects and total spending (well, at least 2nd best) with an average of $ 1.5 million on average per project; but the Pacaderms did some fairly significant damage themselves last year while having only 22.8% of the current year's project numbers but averaging $5 million per project (both numbers rounded). So saying, it's not surprising that the top three porkers were the current minority party. All this tells me is that amidst all the finger pointing, both sides are doing LOTS of favors; and the puppies can still learn a thing or two from the pacaderms. The numbers don't look all so good for either side from this angle, now do they?
I "assume" all this is based on the Preamble to the Constitution's mandate to promote the general welfare; well, either that or we're insuring domestic tranquility. Who knows? Yes, a certain amount of promotion by the general population may be understandable and righteous; but isn't that more the realm of the local authorities? Even there, we recently had a problem with the local municipality donating money to a local high school, against the state constitution. You see, the problem starts off with the purse holders doing nice things for folks; and the folks feel "Well, why not? Isn't that why we voted them up there?" The problem comes either when someone is denied funds or we run out. Then we hear cries of favoritism or incompetence ringing out.
While I must admit to subscribing to a certain belief in the nobles oblige; still, as my better half often points out, I have a tendency to squeak when money is pried from my fingers. It's a delicate balance helping valid need versus fostering dependence on public dole. Still, and Skeeter MAY or may not agree with me here, all this seems more like a gargantuan snow ball coming towards us than a helping hand.
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47944
Welcome aboard, Tom. Libertarians are the only ones with credibility on this issue.
The machine effectively silenced the current threat to the pork barrel machine (Ron Paul), but the Libertarian Party is not going away.
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47943
It should come as no surprise to any of us that the Dumbocrats had the bulk of the earmarks. That doesn't mean the Republicons are free of guilt...they're just as guilty, but at least they're trying to stop the bleeding.
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47941
Just a bunch of Porky Pigs and the biggest honkers are the same ones with the whole hog accounts. Vote every single one of these buffoons out come next election.
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47866
It was a hard pill to swallow seeing that the top three in getting pork to their areas were ALL republicans! Being a life long republican I guess it is time to switch parties and become a libertarian! Old fashioned conservatism!
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47861
This report reads like a lot of grandstanding by the GOP, with the typical glib soundbite analysis of the Reagan worshipers. A lot of this "pork" sounds like legitimate local business promotion, far better investments that the "pork" we invest in Iraq & any scare-mongering that is foisted off on the US taxpayers in the name of keeping the terrorists at bay.
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47844
Greenspan was once asked if he favored tax cuts or spending he said neither until the budget was balanced, but if money was going to be spent tax cuts would be his preference. These nuckle heads in Congress never get it right. They view spending tax dollars as a form of charity, but its a donation from my pocket, every study spells out the same facts liberals love to spend other people's money and conservatives spend their own on charties hence the difference between the 2 parties. Want more of this crap vote for Hillbama
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47835
Unless these 5 Republican congressmen actively opposed earmarks when the Republicans controlled Congress, they have no standing to do so now. Admittedly the Representatives could have changed their minds but then they should say so. The reporter should have asked about their histories on this issue, if given the opportunity, or done some digging on this issue so as to present an accurate picture.
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47834
DT - what is wrong with local people funding local youth sports? Why do think we need the Federal Government to do everything for us? We are better off deciding what youth groups to fund and to become actively involved in raising our children. The village can't raise them for us.
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47831
And be careful who you believe. I've been watching Obama's ads on TV the last week dozens of times saying he has not and will not accept money from big oil. What a lie - he has been and still is accepting money from big oil. And to think he wants us to believe he'll change everything.
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47828
No, Mr. Albers the problem does not lie with the Dept. of Defense, and No G. Robinson, it does not lie with Big Oil, and it does not lie with Congress though they are not helping by their actions. The problem is We the People. About 1/3 of our budget goes to Entitlements, which are direct payments to citizens. Compare $900 Billion to $18 Billion. No, not until We the People are willing to take our hands out of the public treasury and take care of our own needs will the federal budget become manageable, taxes will be greatly reduced, government will shrink to an appropriate size, and prosperity will return to We the People, because we will once again be able to decide ourselves where we will spend our hard earned money. We the people, not some bloated federal beaurocracy. We the people can accomplish amazing and wonderful things if allowed to.
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47817
I am sure if we look deep in the bowels of the earmarks we will also see projects benefiting, the oil and gas industry as well, B/C 123 billion in profit is not enough. Even as they cut refinery production, because they say the demand is down... they still get more money.... The old addage is true... you have to have money to make money..
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47816
The Citizens Against Government Waste is a very short-sighted organization that doesn't appear to have the expertise required to analyze anything. They just take things out of context and issue headline-grabbing press releases. How much would it cost if European fruit flies were to invade California or Florida? It could be pretty devastating. Remember the Med Fly? And, as far as France is concerned - Isn't it better to study them where they live? I also understand that the lobster population in Maine, as well as other species, is undergoing a major decline. Is it wrong to use Federal money to support local industry? They also don't seem to like the youth golfing program called "The First Tee". Is it that they don't like all youth programs, just ones involving sports, or just golf? I would think that anything that gets kids outside and off their butts would be of great benefit. Many of these programs generate local jobs that are badly needed in this era of economic decline.
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47813
I agree with Jen Stoll's reply. I vote the person not the party, so with this article in mind John M. is my front runner now. When are we the American people and our judicial system going to hold our representatives responsible for their actions?
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47807
How can Congress sleep at night knowing that the Country is now officially in the big "R" and they are throwing taxpayer money out the window for fruit flies, lobsters and pigs. What about our soldiers overseas and at home protecting us. How about sending that money to them and their families in the way of increased wages and benefits. Their way of putting out a smoke screen to the public is to take on cases, like baseball players and steroids, in lieu of getting down to the real issues we are facing as a nation. Earmarks should be outlawed.
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47806
Politics as usual! These same 'critics' were silent when the Republican Congress pigged-out and dramatically increased earmarks. The real budget problem lies with Department of Defense (War). We won't be able to rein-in spending (and the impact on government debt) until we put the military-industrial complex on a severe diet.
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