Ever wonder exactly where your tax money goes? You are not alone. The “Citizens Against Government Waste” is a non-profit, non-partisan, group devoted to eliminating unnecessary government spending. Each year, the CAGW releases the “Congressional Pig Book,” which exposes the most outlandish pork barrel projects as well as the government leaders who sponsored them.
Even more astounding than the misuse of tax revenue are those who are actually asking for the money. This year’s book features projects sponsored by senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
One bill New York Senator Hillary Clinton supported appropriated $1,339,500 for a separate, non-profit program called the “Abyssinian Development Corporation.” The community development program is supposed to help increase housing, social services, education and economic opportunities in Harlem.
Don’t get me wrong. This is a great idea, but it’s not a government program. The U.S. is in a war, in the red, and possibly heading toward a recession. This is not the time to spend money on non-government projects.
The book says that $750,000 was given to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, N.Y. for one of four projects “funding presidential libraries.” Hillary Clinton was one of the four New York government officials to request and sign for the funding.
The third appropriations bill Senator Clinton’s name is on has to do with something we are all too familiar with when it comes to the Clinton family: jazz music. Hillary appropriated $390,000 for the “Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.”
Music is inspirational to all ages, but should the government be paying for it?
Illinois Senator Barack Obama’s name can only be found on one federal appropriations bill for 2008. He supported a bill that gave $1,648,850 for the Shedd Aquarium. According to the “Pig Book,” the aquarium’s Web site states that it was a gift from “John Graves Shedd, a chairman of the board of Marshall Fields & Company.” In 2004 the aquarium had a balance of “approximately $200 million,” states the “Pig Book.” I don’t think the Shedd Aquarium is in too much need of government funding, do you?
As for Arizona Senator John McCain, I had to go back to the 2005 “Pork Book” to find his name. He was actually quoted for being against a bill that gave $100,000 to help with the overpopulation of Brown Tree Snakes in Guam. Oddly enough, the book does not list the senators or representatives that actually supported the bill. Even stranger is the fact that McCain has been quoted on the “Praise for CAGW and the Pig Book” page for several years running. Is he not listed because he praised the CAGW or is he really working to keep pork barrel spending to a minimum?
Presidential candidates are not the only things interesting about this book. The “Pig Book Oinkers of 2008” is a section of “awards” given to the most outrageous projects. Here are few standouts: “The French Kiss off Award” in which $211,509 was given towards olive fruit fly research in Paris, France. Another, “The Pig in Sheep’s Clothing Award,” appropriated $148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute. And my personal favorite: “The Taxpayers Get Steamed Award” in which $188,000 was given to the Lobster Institute in Maine.
If knowing that U.S. tax dollars are being spent on fruit fly research makes your blood boil, then I suggest that you check out the “Pig Book” on CAGW’s Web site: www.cagw.org.
As a voter, it is important to research not just about the presidential candidates, but how these appropriations bills are being passed by the people we elected. I understand that building and research projects provide jobs to a slowing economy, but shouldn’t we look at other way to provide funding without using valuable tax dollars?

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