McCain’s Porkiest Twitter List
Although Senator John McCain failed in his valiant attempt at removing the earmarks (9,000! — Okay, that’s excessive) from the omnibus spending bill (Note: Nine Republicans voted against his amendment), he did succeed in adding another porkiest projects list to Twitter. If McCain keeps up this torrid pace, The National Hustle will be offering him a guest posting opportunity by Friday.
Here is the list from today, in reverse order to maintain the integrity of suspense:
10. $285,000 for the Discovery Center of Idaho in Boise, ID
9. $209,000 to improve blueberry production and efficiency in GA
8. $47,500 to remodel and expand a playground in Ottawa, IL
7. $400,000 for copper wire theft prevention efforts
6. $190,000 for the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, WY
5. $819, 000 for catfish genetics research in Alabama
4. $380,000 for lighthouses in Maine
3. $380,000 to revitalize downtown Aliceville, AL
2. $900,000 for fish management – how does one manage a fish…
and the #1 project
1. $951,500 for the Oregon Solar Highway
Thank you, Senator John McCain.
- Matt
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Regarding McCain’s listing of “lighthouses in Maine” as #4 on his “porkiest” projects — the lighthouses in question are all historic properties maintained by the volunteers of the American Lighthouse Foundation. Almost all are federally owned. Funds are needed because the federal government largely abandoned them following automation. Is maintaining some of the most historic federally-owned properties a “pork” project? I think not.
Thanks for the comment, Jeremy.
I’m sure the Maine lighthouse restoration is a completely worthwhile project. I’m also certain the majority of the other 9,000 earmarks have similar stories and represent programs and projects that will likely benefit our economy in many ways, including keeping people in their jobs, creating new jobs, and advancing scientific research.
Although I agree with McCain’s basic premise that earmark spending is typically excessive and has contributed greatly to the federal budget deficit, attempting to remove all “pork” from spending legislation is likely impossible. If you’re the Senate Majority Leader, the President has pushed for a particular piece of $500 billion legislation, and it’s only one vote away from passing…are you not going to tack on a $50k playground in Illinois if that’s what it takes to pass the bill?
But there’s the problem…everybody wants their $50k playground.
- Matt
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Is there really something wrong with the Senator explaining how the Federal Government is spending its citizen’s tax dollars? Should we blindly follow what ever the President and his ilk say without question? Our democracy gives us the freedom to and demands that we analyze and question the decisions of our leaders. Agree or disagree, at least the Senator is putting it out there and I find it hard to criticize that.
Yes 9,000 earmarks is excessive (180 per state) but as jeremy pointed out, these are (or at least can be) worthwhile investments in communities that might otherwise get overlooked. There has to be a way to limit the add ons but do you really think it would be better for congress to spend their time going through each of the 9,000 proposals most of which are under 500K individually? This does not seem like time well spent to me. Also politicians are all about getting theirs for their community so i cannot see anything like the restoration of historic lighthouses getting passes if it comes down to the entire senate voting on each individual issue. it’s like a second grade school birthday party, you may not all be best friends but the whole class comes to get along for a while and at the end of the day they all want the same treat bag. If Maine gets it lighthouse money, Wyoming sure as hell will want its buffalo bill money
Thanks for the comment, Andrew.
Obama refused to include earmarks in the $787 billion American Reinvestment & Recovery Act, but unfortunately the omnibus bill isn’t following the same path. However, just blaming Obama and his “ilk” has two problems: (1) The President doesn’t add earmarks to the omnibus bill, and (2) Republican senators represent six of the top ten earmark sponsors.
Pork-barrel spending is pervasive in federal legislation and is not limited to just one party.
- Matt
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Thanks counterpoint. I think you inadvertantly pointed out the reason taxpayers get so fired up over earmark spending: “9,000 proposals…most of which are under 500K individually? This does not seem like time well spent to me.” Although the earmarks represent only 2% of the spending in the omnibus bill, $500k is 17 years of salary for the average American!
- Matt
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The money for the projects isn’t going to the bank accounts of the politicians. It is going towards projects and community investments – like refurbishing lighthouses. Things that the “average american” can appreciate. As much as the media would like you to believe, the “average american” isnt in foreclosure. And the “average american” still appreciates when money is invested into the communities they live in.