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7/27/2007
When is a pig not a pig?
If it benefits YOU, is it Pork? Despite the ruckus about earmark transparency and disclosure earlier this year, most senators and representatives didn’t disclose their earmarks list at the time – and those lists are just now coming out via flowery press releases.
Those in the know suggest the primary reason elected representatives won’t disclose earmarks early on is because constituent groups could be disappointed if their earmark doesn’t appear in the final bill. For example, Rep. Kagen’s Communications Director told me “Congressman Kagen will release all the earmark requests which are included in the Appropriations bills. When the bills are submitted for consideration with the request included, we will make them available.” [Emphases are mine.]
Press releases have been flowing in. Be assured, the press release doesn’t say “Here is a list of my earmarks” – or “Here’s the pork!” Rather it’s all gussied up in I’m-doing-wonderful-things verbage.
Here, without the fancy press work, is only a partial list of projects touted as having been brought home to the district. All still have quite a ways to go in the legislative process.
These Earmarks from Rep. Kagen are included in the Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act that has passed the house and must now go to the Senate for approval.
- Bay Area medical Center, Marinette: $200,000
- Shawano Co. Rural Health Initiative: $75,000
- NE WI tech. College Mobile Data Center: $175,000
- Menominee Indian Tribe Wellness Center: $375,000
- Dredging Port of Green Bay, Kewaunee and Sturgeon Bay harbors and the Lake Michigan Ship canal: $2,520,000
These Earmarks from Sen. Kohl are included in the Ag. Appropriations Bill that awaits a vote by the Senate
- Conservation Technology Transfer: $1,200,000
- Driftless Area Initiative: $350,000
- Cranberry Conservation: $600,000
- Specialty Cheese Markets: $2,500,000
- Wisconsin Grazing Initiative: $950,000
- Sand County Foundation: $1,000,000
- CWD Surveillance: $1,732,000
- WI Livestock Identification Consortium: $1,980,000
- 11 additional earmarks: $13,319,000
See also, Earmarks from Rep. Gwen Moore. And one of Rep. Obey's big Earmarks. And another.
Well, you get the idea. Somewhere along the line, every one of these projects has a bunch of us supporting it, needing it, benefiting from it. So I ask you. If it benefits your community and/or your pocketbook, is it Pork?
COMMENTS
The true test to determine if it really is the other white meat is rarely performed. That is, are any cost benefit analyses ever performed after the funds are spent to find out whether our money is being well spent. Just falling into our state bank accounts is not the benefit I'm asking for ,but a measurable upside the state citizens.
Yes. Yes. Good. JE
Richard Parins (Fri Jul 27 09:23:47 2007)
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