Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations

Political humorist P. J. O'Rourke once said that "giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."� Considering how much money Congress spends each year on pork-barrel projects, it is hard to disagree with him.

As catalogued in the new 2004 Congressional Pig Book published by Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), these expenditures constitute a record-breaking $22.9 billion spent on 10,656 pork-barrel projects.� That spending figure is 1.6 percent greater than the $22.5 billion in pork projects passed in 2003 also a record at the time and the number of projects is 13 percent greater than the then-record 9,362 pork projects buried in last year's appropriations bills.

As the War on Terror continues and the deficit mushrooms to a record $521 billion, the number of pork projects has increased by 28 percent over the last two years, and the total cost of pork has increased by 13 percent.� Unfortunately, September 11 became an excuse to spend money on just about anything, as the pork in this year's appropriations bills has more to do with protecting incumbents than protecting the American people.� It's time to reform the budget process to stop the pork, including term limits on appropriators, spending caps, and a line-item veto for the president.

While $200,000 for recreation improvements in North Pole, Alaska or $100,000 to renovate a Coca-Cola building in Macon, Georgia may seem insignificant in the grand fiscal scheme of the country, such projects represent a corruption of the budget process.� Many of these projects are inserted into spending bills at the final hour, bypassing standard budget procedure, and are not the result of competitive bidding or presidential authorization.� Each earmark should bear a sticker on it that reads, "This project helped contribute to the $521 billion deficit."�

Taxpayers in South Carolina might consider it worthwhile to spend $238,000 on the National Wild Turkey Foundation in Edgefield.� However, they should realize that their federal tax dollars are also funding projects in other states that do not benefit them in any way whatsoever, such as $50 million for an indoor rainforest in Coralville, Iowa, and $400,000 for the Medical Institute of Sexual Health in Austin, Texas.

What's even more outrageous is that members of Congress pig out even as the U.S. military fights insurgents in Iraq.� This is a sharp break from past practice, when Congress frequently curbed its spending appetite while financing a war effort.� For example, prior to World War II, non-defense was cut by 22 percent between 1939 and 1942.� An additional 37 percent was eliminated over the next two years.� During the Korean War, non-defense discretionary spending dropped 25 percent between 1950 and 1951.

By contrast, members of this Congress passed the Omnibus Appropriations bill in January knowing full well that the occupation of Iraq could grind on for years.� The fiscal 2005 budget now before Congress slyly leaves out new funding for Iraq and Afghanistan until a budget-busting emergency supplemental is passed after the November elections.� Forgoing the $22.9 billion in pork would have significantly eased this financial burden on taxpayers.

To be fair, there are a few members of Congress who have been reliable opponents of pork-barrel binging, notably Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Reps. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).� In particular, Sen. McCain has repeatedly tried to thwart attempts by his colleagues to finance such projects, including his efforts to defeat a bloated $318 billion transportation bill.� Unfortunately, only 20 of his colleagues agreed with him that expenditures like $4.8 million for railroads in Alaska and $2 million for the South Dakota School of Mines are unnecessary in a time of war.

As April 15 approaches, the mailing of tax forms should be accompanied by a letter, email, or fax to representatives and senators demanding an end to pork-barrel spending and changes in the budget process.� Reforms should include term limits on appropriators, spending caps, a line-item veto for the president, and two-year budgeting.� Special interests and self-interest are prevailing over the taxpayers' well-being.� It is time to put Washington on a pork-free diet.