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CAGW IDENTIFIES RECORD $22.5 BILLION IN PORK FOR 2003
Wed May 7 11:48:26 2003
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Source:

Citizens Against Government Waste

CAGW IDENTIFIES RECORD $22.5 BILLION IN PORK FOR 2003

INTRODUCTION

When Congress passed the 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill on February 13, 2003, the country was staring at a $300 billion budget deficit and preparing for military action overseas. Instead of being fiscally responsible, members of Congress loaded the bill up with thousands of pork-barrel projects ranging from the National Peanut Festival in Alabama to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Texas.

Unlike it did during World War II and the Korean War, Congress has failed to cut non-defense discretionary spending during the War on Terrorism. The choices are clear. Should Congress spend $1 million for oyster recovery in South Carolina, or marsh restoration in New Hampshire, or the Bering Sea crab in Alaska, or brown tree snakes in Hawaii? Or should that same $1 million be used to buy one Tomahawk cruise missile to begin replacing the thousands that are being used in Iraq? The American people know the answer, but apparently Congress has yet to get the message.

This year's total reveals that Congress porked out at record levels. For fiscal 2003, appropriators stuck 9,362 projects in the 13 appropriations bills, an increase of 12 percent over last year's total of 8,341. In the last two years the total number of projects has increased 48 percent. The cost of these projects in fiscal 2003 was $22.5 billion, or 12 percent more than last year's total of $20.1 billion. In fact, the total cost of pork has increased by 22 percent since fiscal 2001. Total pork identified by Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) since 1991 adds up to $162 billion.

The top three increases in pork from fiscal 2002 to fiscal 2003 were: District of Columbia from $10 million to $87 million (769 percent); Legislative Branch from $34 million to $71 million (108 percent); and Military Construction from $881 million to $1.2 billion (33 percent).

Alaska again led the nation with $611 per capita ($393 million), or 18 times the national pork average of $34. The runners up were Hawaii with $283 per capita ($353 million) and the District of Columbia with $262 per capita ($149 million). The common thread in the top two states is that they are represented by powerful senators and appropriators then-Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), and Senate appropriator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii).

As Congress and the President debate the fiscal 2004 budget, they should reject the pork and waste that was approved in fiscal 2003. Only then can taxpayers be reassured that Washington will adequately protect both their fiscal and physical security.

The 439 projects, totaling $3.2 billion, in this year's Congressional Pig Book Summary symbolize the most egregious and blatant examples of pork. As in previous years, all of the items in the Congressional Pig Book Summary meet at least one of CAGW's seven criteria, but most satisfy at least two:

· Requested by only one chamber of Congress;

· Not specifically authorized;

· Not competitively awarded;

· Not requested by the President;

· Greatly exceeds the President's budget request or the previous year's funding;

· Not the subject of congressional hearings; or

· Serves only a local or special interest.

I. AGRICULTURE

Like children taking cookies from a jar, appropriators used the Agriculture Appropriations Bill to satisfy their hunger for pork with little regard to national needs. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a very strict policy of not requesting state- or commodity-specific research grants through the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) special research grants program. Unfortunately, Congress has a strict policy of not listening to USDA. In fact, appropriators earmarked $112 million in CSREES grants, a 3,294 percent increase over USDA's budget request of $3.3 million. Total agriculture pork in fiscal 2003 was $478 million, or 5 percent more than fiscal 2002's total of $454 million.

$44,239,000 for projects in the state of Senate Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee member Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee member Tom Latham (R-Iowa), including: $33,000,000 for the National Animal Disease Center in Ames; $700,000 for the Midwest Poultry Consortium; $280,000 for the Iowa Vitality Center; $235,000 for dairy education; $210,000 for hoop barns; and $100,000 for the Trees Forever Program.

$29,904,000 added by the Senate for projects in the state of then-Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), including: $9,200,000 for the Southern Horticulture Laboratory in Poplarville; $2,000,000 for the plant propagation facility in Oxford; $750,000 for ornamental crops research; $500,000 for catfish health in Stoneville; $350,000 for sweet potato research in Stoneville; and $100,000 for drainage improvements on Watkins Drive in Jackson.

$19,973,000 for projects in the state of then-Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.) and the district of House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member David Obey (D-Wisc.), including: $8,400,000 for the Cereal Crops Research Laboratory; $3,000,000 for the Nutrient Management Research Laboratory in Marshfield; $550,000 for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture's grazing lands initiative; and $540,000 for urban horticulture.

$10,586,000 for projects in the state of then-Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), including: $1,200,000 for seafood harvesting, processing, and marketing; $700,000 for rural development; $631,000 for alternative salmon products; $450,000 for the Kenai Streambank restoration water project; $200,000 for seafood waste in Fairbanks; and $140,000 for salmon quality standards.

$7,115,000 for projects in the state of then-Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and House appropriator Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), including: $740,000 for aquaculture product and marketing development; $690,000 for agriculture waste utilization; $600,000 for water pollutants; $180,000 for wetland plants; and $160,000 for feed efficiency.

$6,170,000 for wood utilization research (Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Mich., Minn., Miss., N.C., Ore., and Tenn.). Since 1985, $73 million has been sapped from the taxpayers for this research.

$4,214,000 for shrimp aquaculture research (Ariz., Hawaii, La., Mass., Miss., S.C., and Texas). Since 1985, $57 million has been appropriated for this research, which has become a staple of the appropriators' diet.

$19,973,000 for projects in the state of then-Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.) and the district of House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member David Obey (D-Wisc.), including: $8,400,000 for the Cereal Crops Research Laboratory; $3,000,000 for the Nutrient Management Research Laboratory in Marshfield; $550,000 for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture's grazing lands initiative; and $540,000 for urban horticulture.

$10,586,000 for projects in the state of then-Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), including: $1,200,000 for seafood harvesting, processing, and marketing; $700,000 for rural development; $631,000 for alternative salmon products; $450,000 for the Kenai Streambank restoration water project; $200,000 for seafood waste in Fairbanks; and $140,000 for salmon quality standards.

$7,115,000 for projects in the state of then-Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and House appropriator Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), including: $740,000 for aquaculture product and marketing development; $690,000 for agriculture waste utilization; $600,000 for water pollutants; $180,000 for wetland plants; and $160,000 for feed efficiency.

$6,170,000 for wood utilization research (Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Mich., Minn., Miss., N.C., Ore., and Tenn.). Since 1985, $73 million has been sapped from the taxpayers for this research.

$4,214,000 for shrimp aquaculture research (Ariz., Hawaii, La., Mass., Miss., S.C., and Texas). Since 1985, $57 million has been appropriated for this research, which has become a staple of the appropriators' diet.

$900,000 for Satsuma orange research in the state of Senate appropriator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and House appropriators Robert Aderholdt (R-Ala.), Sonny Callahan (R-Ala.), and Robert Cramer (D-Ala.). The focus of this research is to determine new methods for Satsuma orange production, an important crop in Alabama, "under potentially unfavorable conditions." Although USDA has never requested funds for this project, Satsuma orange research has received $2,173,955 since fiscal 2001, and its national significance remains dubious.

$497,000 added by the House for projects in the district of House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee member Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.): $297,000 for technological development of renewable resources and $200,000 for rice agronomy.

$450,000 added by the House for oyster post-harvest treatment research in the district of House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee member F. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.). According to USDA testimony, "this research is focused on freezing as a post-harvest treatment" for oysters and shellstock products to reduce the health risks for consumers in Florida. Since 2002, $850,000 has been appropriated for this research.

$280,000 for asparagus technology and production in the state of Senate appropriator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee member George Nethercutt (R-Wash.). According to USDA officials, "the asparagus industry in Washington and other states is suffering a severe economic loss," and "this research will enable Washington asparagus producers to remain domestically and internationally competitive."

II. COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE AND THE JUDICIARY

Americans are counting on the Departments of Commerce, Justice and State to execute key objectives in the war on terror - to hold together diplomatic coalitions, monitor intelligence for future threats, guard borders, and bring terrorists to justice. Yet appropriators diverted critically needed funds from the three departments to fund pet projects. Compared with fiscal 2002, pork rose 11 percent from $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion, and earmarks increased 10 percent from 821 to 903.

$76,570,000 for projects in the state of then-Senate Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D-S.C.), including: $14,000,000 for the Charleston Border Patrol Academy; $14,000,000 for the Bonneau Ferry; $1,500,000 for shrimper assistance; $1,000,000 for oyster recovery; $600,000 for the Charleston Bump; and $500,000 for seafood marketing.

$75,872,000 for projects in the state of then-Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and the district of House Commerce Appropriations subcommittee member Alan Mollahan (D-W.Va.), including: $66,600,000 for Federal Prison System buildings and facilities in Hazleton; $3,000,000 for the Marshall University Forensic Science Program; $100,000 for the Mason County Sheriff's Office to investigate and respond to Oxy Contin abuse; and $72,000 for the Lewis County Sheriff's Department for an upgraded records management system and an automated dispatching system.

$40,582,000 for projects in the state of then-Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), including: $3,000,000 for Ketchikan National Marine Fisheries Service facilities; $2,000,000 for the Kodiak Pier; $1,000,000 for the Alaska Native Justice Center; $1,000,000 for the Bering Sea crab; $750,000 for the city of Wasilla for a regional dispatch center; $350,000 for Partners for Downtown Progress; and $225,000 for the Beluga Whale Committee.

$37,657,000 added by the Senate for projects in the state of then-Senate Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and the district of then-House appropriator John Sununu (R-N.H.), including: $20,000,000 for Federal Prison System buildings and facilities in Berlin; $1,000,000 for marsh restoration; and $300,000 for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections to purchase digital radios.

$23,180,000 added by the Senate for projects in the state of Senate appropriator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), including: $6,000,000 for Grand Bay; $3,000,000 for the National Center for Justice and the Rule of Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law; $2,200,000 for Deer Island; $850,000 for Simpson County for a public safety automated technologies system; $500,000 for Ocean Springs to equip an emergency management and public safety facility; and $250,000 for the Warren County Sheriff's Department for technology enhancements.

$21,086,000 added in conference for projects in the district of House appropriator Henry Bonilla (R-Texas): $10,486,000 for Eagle Pass Border Patrol Station; and $5,300,000 each for the Laredo Checkpoint System and the Del Rio Checkpoint System.

$19,200,000 for projects in the state of Senate Commerce Appropriations subcommittee member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), including: $7,800,000 for Hawaiian sea turtles; $2,025,000 for Mu'olea Point; $825,000 for Hawaiian monk seals; and $500,000 for Hawaiian Community Development.

$11,925,000 for projects in the state of Senate Commerce Appropriations subcommittee member Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.) and the district of House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member David Obey (D-Wisc.), including: $3,000,000 for the Milwaukee Police Department to purchase and install mobile digital radios in its squad cars and increase public access to data; $1,000,000 for the Madison Police Department's Consolidated Communications Project; $500,000 for the Eau Claire County Police Communications Project for a computer aided dispatch and records management system; and $125,000 for the Ashland County Sheriff's Department for a school resource officer program.

$500,000 added in conference for the First Tee Program. Its mission is to "impact the lives of young people around the world by creating affordable and accessible golf facilities to primarily serve those who have not previously had exposure to the game and its positive values."

$100,000 added in conference for culinary education training for an at-risk youth program at Johnson and Wales University in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

III. DEFENSE

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• Time To Forget About Figureheads — Paul Joseph Watson, Wed May 7 15:18