Those crazy Republicans are at it again - fresh off the heels of raising our debt ceiling, they pass the new omnibus spending bill This new spending bill from the GOP Congress contains 11,772 earmarks for pork at a cost of $15,780,533,623 to the taxpayers oh wait there is more And for our children, the GOP will be cutting their Pell Grants and eliminating HEAD START Do you think Bush will veto this bill? HA! He's never seen a spending bill he doesn't like 4 more years! 4 more years! I can't wait.
Chump -- i'm missing your point entirely. there is pork in that bill that I'm sure is supported by both parties. pork knows no political affiliation...everyone does it.
I would like to know why the Mormons are suppressing cricket... a game beloved by our closest ally, and why the Federal government is kicking in a million bucks to do it. It's an outrage! Keep D&D Civil!!
Personally, I feel the crickets here in Texas should be much more vocal about their faith. Let us unite!!! I will lay down my life for the liberty of the poor crickets!!! Who is with me? "I may disagree with every word you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to be a cricket and still say it!" - Voltaire's brother, Leroy c. a long time ago
Honestly, $15 billion is a trifle in the grand scheme of things. That money wouldn't even pay for the Iraq war for three months at the rate we're going.
True, but it's marginally interesting, though not surprising, that the party of small government, fend for yourself, red states seems to be feeding at the government troughby a wider dollar margin. This number is borne out in national statistics as well. Put your money (which is actually our money) where your mouth is, reddies, and give back to us bluesies! Since we can't have national health care or a sensible terror policy, which endangers us a lot more than you - at least let me upgrade my home A/V system.
If they are worthy of funding, then why aren't the local governments paying for them? The federal government should fund programs that are of national interest or benefit, and leave the local stuff to the states and municipalities. I don't want my income taxes going to Atlanta for the renovation of a motel. Pork barrel spending is ridiculous and we should all be disgusted by it, regardless of party affiliation.
Education, cultural, and environmental spending IS in the national interest last I checked. If we used your standard there would be no NEA, for example. I don't have a problem paying for that. Do you?
How is that my standard? The NEA stands for the National Endowment for the Arts. It's a nationwide program that everyone benefits from. If it was the Pittsburg Endowment for the Arts, with money going only to Pittsburg artists, I'd have a problem funding it.
How is that any different than funding multiple cultural projects in multiple states? Sure its under the umbrella of one agency but functionally it works out the same. And what do you have against Pittsburgh? Well there were those AFC Championship games...
I really love how democrats act like this has never happened before. Republicans do say they are the party of small government but everyone knows thats a lie. Lets look at this the easy way: How do politicans get elected? They must win the vote from their constituents. How do they keep their job? Provide for their constituents with whatever they feel will help (in whatever odd way). How do they pay for this? Pork. Pork sucks, but it's built in to our system and as was once said, "To the winner go the spoils." Pork ALWAYS increases year after year and sees a bigger spike when a party gains seats in either the House or the Senate. There's almost no way to get rid of it unless you change our system of government.
Chump why are you blaming the Republicans? This was done because of the LIBERAL MEDIA and Bill Clinton, have you forgot? was president back in 1999?
While I don't see any of that in the items listed (I may have overlooked them) I suppose funding for building a planned parenthood would be OK with you?...
The NEA is a funding source that is available to anyone who applies and is accepted for funding, regardless of their state. So it's national in scope. Funding for local projects built into the budget benefit only their local communities. Functionally it doesn't work the same because there's little oversight when 3000 pages of local-interest pork barrel projects are built into a budget that is voted on as a whole.
