I like sculpture as much as the next guy...
...but 86 US Senators voted against 3 anti-pork amendments written by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK. Coburn's changes would have held back half-a-million dollars slated for a 'sculpture park,' of all things, in Seattle (plus $200,000 to build an animal shelter in Rhode Isl., and $200K to build a parking lot in Omaha.) The intention was to use these funds instead to help pay for the costs of Hurricane Katrina.
Now that this pig's out of the bag, maybe Washingtonians will pressure Murray to bring the bacon home to our state for something more savory than a pigeon's public toilet.
Also, Sen. Patty Murray issued threats on the Senate floor to any who might support Coburn's amendments: "We on the Appropriations Committee will take a 'long, hard look' at any projects in your state."
So let the pork fall where it may.
Posted by Brian Crouch at October 20, 2005 03:45 PM | Email This86?
Sounds like a cleaning of the House is needed.
Or at leastthe Senate.
VOTE:
NO INCUMBENTS GET RETURNED TO OFFICE.
Posted by: JCM on October 20, 2005 06:47 PMThat's one cold bitch.
Isn't it great that hard working people in Omaha sent their tax dollars to Washington DC...have everyone there take their cut....only to have a smaller amount sent back to fund a parking garage? Makes no sense. That's why the 10th amendment needs to be inforced.
Mark D
Posted by: Mark D on October 20, 2005 08:22 PMUnfortunately, being high and mighty and fighting corruption did not benefit the state of Wisconsin during Proxmire's term. The other Senators directed money elsewhere. While fighting pork was noble, Senators like Scoop Jackson and Maggie, and others, were funnelling the funds to their states. Therefore, while you may laugh at Murray's promotion of sculpture, it is miniscule compared to the big-wigs. Trent Lott, when he was majority leader, directed billions to the Mississippi shipbuilding industry in the form of Navy contracts. Unfortunately, they were for ships that the Navy didn't even want.
There is no Democrat or Republican in pork. Here is a big cheer for the modern day pork fighters that are willing to take on even their own party. Here is to the John McCain's of the world. Here is hoping that McCain can make it past the primaries and convention that will be rigged to elect GW's hand-picked successor (Jeb or another neo-con cronny) and that the country gets a true leader and pork fighter.
Just my two cents.
tc
John McCain still won't make it through, even thought things aren't the way you imagine him. He's simply someone an awful lot of us "little guys" on the conservative end of things doesn't trust to be fo us in the end.
He does some good things. But he's also part of the gang of 14 on judicial nominees, and finance reform (Which many of us believe is a violation of the first amendment and continuing cause of more problems), his work on the gun show legislation, support of the Kyoto treaty, etc.
Posted by: Sarah of WA on October 21, 2005 07:26 AMYou from Seattle? Yeah, pink pigs, and statues of Lenin.
Posted by: JCM on October 21, 2005 07:45 AMDear Hon. Murray,
I was saddened to see that you not only voted against the Coburn amendment yesterday but you spoke against it as if it were anathema.
Why is it so wrong to reveiw your budget and shift money from one project to another. I find it no different than any budget (home or business) that needs revisited when hit with new expenses.
I understand that your power is in the money that you can procure for this state. I see on your front page of this website, $4.7 million for jobs training grant. Now you can tout that you brought home the bacon (though you certainly wouldn't call it "pork"). OPM (other people's money) is the way of life in Washington D.C. and it sickens me.
I am appalled that only 15 out of 100 supposedly thoughtful senators see a need to show contraints in spending taxpayers money. I don't see the stewardship. Which is a more brave position to hold, Tom Coburn's or yours? Which position demonstrates leadership and stewardship of OPM?
I hope and pray for a groundswell of support for Sen. Coburn and the breath of fresh air he brings to Washington, D.C.
Posted by: Philip P on October 21, 2005 11:19 AMDon't be fooled. Just because Cheney isn't planning on running, it doesn't mean Rove hasn't thought through his next move. I am sure both GW Bush and Rove have a plan A of Jeb running, and a Plan B of one of the other neo-con cronnies. I wouldn't put it past them to promote Condi as their plan B if Jeb doesn't run.
Posted by: tc on October 21, 2005 11:59 AMNumber of Pork Projects in Federal Spending Bills
2005 - 13,997
2004 - 10,656
2003 - 9,362
2002 - 8,341
2001 - 6,333
2000 - 4,326
1999 - 2,838
1998 - 2100
1997 - 1,596
1996 - 958
1995 - 1439
Notice the doubling under Bush and his big-spending cronies and allies. You think these people will respond to "PorkBusters" campaigns? Puh-lease. They'll respond only when they are thrown out of office.
Posted by: dinesh on October 21, 2005 12:53 PMWell, we have a point of argreement, GWB is no fiscal conservative.
Posted by: JCM on October 21, 2005 01:25 PMthe best, i believe, we can achieve in a political duopoly is divided government. it worked, largely, under clinton with a republican congress. unfortunately that lesson was not first and foremost on the minds of the electorate in 2004. consequently, we can expect higher interest rates, higher taxes and more indictments b/c of politicians of both parties and their profiligate ways. b/c republicans controlled the congress and executive branches of govt., the primarily responsibility lays at their feet.
Posted by: dinesh on October 21, 2005 02:48 PM
sgmmac--it's from Pigs on Parade (which I actually really enjoyed):
http://www.pigsonparade.org/
Posted by: Cathy on October 22, 2005 02:23 PM