Porkulus!

Posted on 03/03/2009 at 7:29 am by JumpyPants

Okay, so it’s time for another wingnut revolution (get a permit!) to protest the staggering amount of pork in the omnibus bill that’s moving through Congress right now. So let’s go, wingnuts. Get your little tea bags and your awesome signs and get going.

Here are the top three offenders (solo earmarks):

1) Senator Byrd (D-W.Va.) – $123 million

But Byrd supports the earmark system, so of course he’s going to take advantage. He always does. But look…

2) Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) – $114 million
3) Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo.) – $86 million

Senator Inhofe? $53 million. Senator Cochran? $76 million. Senator McConnell? $51 million. Total Republican solo earmarks? $669 million. Why do the Republicans hate America?

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  • Theghostsong

    Only a fool wouldn’t realize we all stand to benefit from a healthier, well-educated society. But that’s never really been what it’s about for the Repubs.

  • http://www.intoxination.net Jamie

    Louisiana is going to get over 1/2 a billion? Will Jindal turn that down, or will he take it with open arms while telling the people in his state that lost their jobs them and their families have to starve?

  • http://freeforallpolitics.multiply.com/ Cody

    Who’s the Porkers now….?GOP leader’s earmarks give critics $75M targethttp://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mcconnell-gives-critics-75m-target-2009-03-02.html

  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/warren-holstein/top-ten-earmarks-for-prog_b_170829.html Warren Holstein

    I am an ardent Obama supporter, however, I have done some research and found the Top Ten Earmarks for Progressive Liberal Lefties. Check it:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/warren-holstein/top-ten-earmarks-for-prog_b_170829.html

  • http://www.broadwaycarl.blogspot.com Broadway Carl

    Breaking down the numbers (Excel file) even further:SOLO EARMARKS:6 of the top 10 solo earmark procurers were Republicans for a total of $454.4 million.The remaining 4 Dems in the top 10: $312.9 million.Of the 22 Senators that didn’t ask for solo earmarks, only 5 were Republican.Total amount for 45 Republican Senators: $665.8 millionTotal amount for 55 Democratic Senators: $$681.3 million.EARMARKS (SOLO AND WITH OTHER MEMBERS):Democrats: 3,956 earmarks for a total of $4.75 billionRepublicans: 3,536 earmarks for a total of $4.6 billionPERCENTAGES:Democrats: 52.8% of earmarks totaling 50.8% of the money.Rebpublicans: 47.2% of earmarks totaling 49.2% of the money.So the fiscally responsible Republicans in the Senate who have been front and center complaining about earmarks as pork account for basically HALF of the earmarks… with less members.

  • http://www.windonwater.net QueenTiye

    Guys – let’s help Bob’s site… this post is a good one to digg – and I’ve dugg it. :) I can digg it, he can digg itShe can digg it, we can digg itThey can digg it, you can digg itOh, let’s digg itCan you digg it, baby–from the department of recycled oldiesQT

  • http://www.politicalpartypooper.wordpress.com/ politicalpartypooper

    Wait a minute…I thought there was no pork in this bill?

  • J

    Question: what is an earmark? Or pork, or whatever we’re calling it? To me, it’s money in a bill for a ridiculous project that no one wants, solely so you can get more money in your state’s budget (or in political allies pockets). But I appear to be mistaken. It seems that pork is any money put aside for a specific purpose. So SCHIP is just one giant slab of ham.Isn’t it better to specify what things money is going to spent on? Then, later, if that money appears to have been wasted, you have a really good idea where the waste was. But maybe I’m crazy.

  • http://www.windonwater.net QueenTiye

    PPP: There’s no pork in the stimulus package, and a good deal of it in the congressional spending bill.J: No, SCHIP is not pork. Pork (at least as I understand it) is specifically set-aside money for projects back home. So – whereas the local museum would normally need to compete for grants under various bills (for instance money set aside in the stimulus package), earmarks specify money for specific projects outside of the normal competitive process. They are used like currency – if you want this senator or congressman’s vote, you have to include his or her spending project(s) in the bill.That’s why Pelosi’s mouse was a lie – the marshlands where the mouse resides has to compete with other wetlands projects for the same pool of money. However, Speaker Pelosi could, as part of the earmark process, end the competition, by writing in a spending line item and having it inserted in the omnibus bill.QT

  • http://www.osborneink.com Matt Osborne

    Bob, you might as well teabag the whole state of Alabama. We’re practically a welfare state — taking in about $1.69 for every dollar we send to DC. Shelby’s just the biggest pig at the trough because he’s the senior Senator.

  • http://broadwaycarl.blogspot.com Broadway Carl

    J, you have it exactly backwards.An earmark is for a specific project of program in your district. It’s the politician’s job to secure money for worthwhile projects.It is classified as “pork” when the project seems frivilous… like, oh, let’s say a Bridge to Nowhere.For example, in the current bill, in the state of Louisana, Rodney Alexander is asking for $300K for City of East Baton Rouge for sewer system improvements and $94,000 for Blackbird Management. Which is the pork? The people whose salary is dependent on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service receiving that money wouldn’t call it pork.

  • ElMystico

    Carl… 45 Republican Senators? Where are the other 4 come from?Also, Robert Byrd just wants to get as much money for WVa as he can before he goes. I mean, they just now got highways for fucks sake… Sure it’s a mountainous little burg where half the people forget that they were part of the Union, the most exciting game in town is when Bo Duke stops in at the car dealership to sign autographs, and you’re likely as not to get picked up by a moonshine runner.That might sound stereotypical but it’s pretty much all true.

  • http://www.politicalpartypooper.wordpress.com/ politicalpartypooper

    Carl,It doesn’t take $94k to manage blackbirds. It just takes some .22 bullets and a whole lot of time on your hands.

  • http://www.broadwaycarl.blogspot.com Broadway Carl

    45 Republican Senators? Where are the other 4 come from?Take a look at the analysis, Mysty. It was mostly likely started before the election and includes 12 former Senators.*Denoted:ClintonObamaStevensSununuHagelAllardDomeniciColemanDoleGordon SmithCraigSalazar

  • http://www.broadwaycarl.blogspot.com Broadway Carl

    PPP, LOL! Don’t talk to me, talk to those in Louisiana. Maybe they can come up to New York and help with some “Pidgeon Management.”

  • J

    Carl, QT: I *think* I understand. But would I be correct in saying that a lot of things get classified as pork (in the media, by the opposing party) that are in fact earmarks? And that earmarks, in and of themselves, are not necessarily bad things?

  • http://www.broadwaycarl.blogspot.com Broadway Carl

    J, that is right. Earmarks may bring desperately needed funds to a worthwhile cause in your district. Some make more sense than others. It seems that if you’re a politician, you classify something an earmark if you are for it, but pork if you’re against it. At least, that’s what it looks like to me.

  • ceu

    J – yes.earmarks are monies that are earmarked (hence the term) for a specific purpose. if that purpose is to rebuilt a bridge so that it doesn’t collapse at rush hour, it’s not a bad thing.

  • http://www.windonwater.net QueenTiye

    Well – but there’s also the argument that the federal government should not be funding local projects directly, in which case all earmarks are pork – not because the projects aren’t worthy, but because of the process of funding.Going back to Pelosi’s mouse – if there are limited federal dollars and we have to make choices – shouldn’t those choices be decided on a competitive basis, rather than on the political clout of Nancy Pelosi? Without a specific earmark – the program needs to compete – so it needs to be a solid proposal with a solid budget outlined that whoever is making marshland funding choices can compare – and maybe it gets the funding or not. AND – because there’s no guarantee that it will get the funding – local government has to do more to figure out how to pay for it if it is truly valued. And finally – because it has to be pushed through local legislatures for funding – the local community has more say over the matter. So there’s a case to be made against any and all earmarks.QT

  • http://www.windonwater.net QueenTiye

    Here’s more on the differences between the recovery act and the omnibus bill:http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/promise/512/go-line-line-over-earmarks-make-sure-money-being-s/QT

  • D. C.

    So, has McCain made them famous yet?

  • J

    Thanks, all. This whole pork/earmark thing has been bugging me like whoa.