Tuesday, January 06, 2009
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Obama 'No Pork' Hedge
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Posted by:
Amanda Carpenter at
2:32 PM
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Barack Obama is playing semantics with his forthcoming spending bill.
The president-elect says he won't permit "members" to insert any earmarks in the $1 trillion spending bill he is crafting to stimulate the economy, but mayors aren't members and they're the ones hungry for some pork.
Today Obama promised to set "new higher standard of accountability, transparency and oversight. We are going to ban all earmarks, the process by which individual members insert projects without review" at a press conference. This may sound all well and good, but the pork in the bill that conservatives are upset about doesn't come from Washington lawmakers.
Obama requested mayors around the nation compile "shovel-ready" projects worthy of government funding and they responded with a whopping 800 pages worth of ideas, many of which would make the average taxpayer hopping mad. The final list, presented in a report called "The Mainstreet Recovery Ready to Go Infrastructure Project" contained $72.2 billion worth of projects that were essentially, earmarks.
The Wall Street Journal culled a list of the most offensive projects in an op-ed today. The "mayoral priorities" included:
$1 million to upgrade the Los Angeles County Convention Center elevated "catwalk" for cameras and lighting
$350,000 for an Albuquerque, N.M., fitness center;
$94 million for a parking garage at the Orange Bowl in Miami
$4.5 million for Gretna, Florida, to bottle water with recyclable bottles
$35 million music hall of fame in Florissant, Missouri
$3.1 million for a swimming pool in Tulsa.
$80,000 for a tennis facility in Santa Barbara
$6 million to renovate the beach at Surfers Point in Venice, California
$1.5 million to reduce prostitution with education programs in Dayton, Ohio
and Ponce,
$5.7 million to improve a cruise ship terminal in Puerto Rico But we're not supposed to believe these are "earmarks" because they weren't submitted by U.S. senator or representative. Granted, these projects are not guaranteed to be in the final bill, but have been requested. They are options on the table. It remains to be seen exactly what Obama will or will not approve. It
Citizens Against Government Waste has been on this since the report came out last month. President Tom Schatz said, “It is outrageous that the mayors would use this economic crisis as an opportunity to obtain federal funding for these wasteful, low priority projects, which apparently offer excellent photo opportunities for them, but will do nothing to stimulate the economy in the long term.”
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bit*h, bit*h, bit*h, blah, blah, blah all you want, it is YOUR fault if YOU keep voting the bums in. |
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Voicemail for the Homeless – Ohio ($15,000)
While the homeless in Summit County struggle to find food, shelter and clothing, this Ohio community made sure they were not lacking in one essential service: voice mail.
Inflatable Alligator and Under-the-Sea Waterslide – Texas ($367,000)
A report by the Texas Education Agency found that $367,000 in federal funds was misspent...
Billings Mustangs Minor League Baseball Stadium – Montana ($328,300)
In 2008, the Billings Mustangs – a minor league baseball team – moved into its new home at Dehler Park.
Bike Path Along Baton Rouge Levees – Louisiana ($1 million)
Even as Louisiana continues to rebuild its levees following the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,
B In Tune Youth Music Program – Washington, D.C. ($430,000)
In 2005, a half million dollar grant was given to the non-profit organization to teach youth about “funk music and Nobel Peace laureates,” though it is doubtful money was ever spent for that purpose,
2010 Decennial Census Bailout – ($210 million)
Since 2004, the Census Bureau has embarked on an effort to bring the 2010 Census into the 21st Century, but wound up in the 18th Century. $800 million later, the 2010 Census will still be collected, not electronically but by paper and pencil, just like the first census over 200 years ago.
Freewheel Midtown Bike Center Café and Bike Shower – Minnesota ($560,000)
The Freewheel Midtown Bike Center is a rest stop of sorts for bicyclists using the Midtown Greenway,
National Park Service 100-Year Birthday Party ($24.6 million)
The National Park Service (NPS) turns 100 years old in 2016 and the agency is throwing itself a birthday party in style, with the taxpayer picking up the tab. Congress authorized $24.6 million for 2008 to spend on the Centennial Challenge,
edited for space***but ya gets da idea..... |
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Thank you for clarifying that fact that you don't think. |
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It appears that you are not bothering to watch the Lame Stream Media as the Obama/Balgo/Reid/Richardson, et al, comedy unfold. If you were, you would note that they are following the rules as posted. But then, you are probably waiting for your new entitlements to start later this month. |
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We have not spent a trillion dollars on the Iraq battle of the war on terror. Try again. |
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Earmarks are funding for local, special projects that doesn't have to go through the budget competitive process. By this definition, this bill is made up entirely of earmarks! It is cynical to say "no earmarks will be allowed".
Also, during the campaign, McCain said he would end earmarks in an effort to reduce the budget deficit. obama ridiculed him, saying it wouldn't save enough money to make any significant difference. Now, with a budget deficit twice as big, he is proposing "no earmarks" to save money. This seems duplicitous, insincere, and cynical. |
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Don't take away my B1tches and Hoes in Dayton!!
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I guess giving tax cuts to those who pay no income tax isn't considered pork. It's also not considered welfare. Since Barack's stimulus plan doesn't get talked about without his simultaneously talking about billions in tax cuts, I wonder what he considers these payments to be.
Oh, yeah, I forgot...spreading the wealth around. |
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Pork is a project for a Republican district. On the other hand, non-Pork is for Democratic districts. |
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- If it's worth fighting for, it's worth fighting dirty for.
- Don't lie, cheat or steal...unnecessarily.
- There is always one more son of a gun than you counted on.
- An honest answer can get you into a lot of trouble.
- The facts, although interesting, are irrelevant.
- Chicken Little only has to be right once.
- "NO" is only an interim response.
- You can't kill a bad idea.
- If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you ever tried.
- The truth is a variable.
- A porcupine with his quills down in just another fat rodent.
- You can agree with any concept or notional future option, in principle, but fight implementation every step of the way.
- A promise is not a guarantee.
- If you can't counter the argument, leave the meeting. |
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All that Obama has done is rename earmarks and pork.
It's like saying you've cut out all desserts, but all you've done is started calling cake a vegetable.
This is just one of many more outrages to come. |
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As if it's not enough to insult our intelligence by repeating his false line about earmarks, his record of earmarks means he lacks any credibility on which to reject a bill from senators that contains earmarks. FYI - when the senate finally seats ALL members - i am sure Burris will have some requests for people at home - remember the 'community organizing' days included the main street people and political thugs in Chicago - and of course Michelle's former hospital has it's 'community outreach' priorities that require Burris to ask for some 'help' for the people. Barry owes too much to the people who bought him the presidency and he will include earmarks starting with the biggest earmark of 1.3 trillion dollar 'saving jobs projects' or whatever they will call it. Does anyone know what Reid thinks? It seems like he is not only telling senators what to do, he is also telling governors what to do.
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It's all just chump talk from O. |
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With the rate the politicistas are blowing through money, the value dollar will plummet with the related inflationary "$4.99 per roll of charmin" following. The only thing postponing it now is the fact the world's economy is in the crapper also. If it works, I'll give him his praise. If not, if I speak his name, it will be forever conjoined with vulgarity. And to think these people are elected by the "people". It's as if they're are the proverbial glass of poison, yet we can't help but drink it. This sucks. |
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Give it a break. Surely California could use some extra funding for disaster management. Firefighting has taken its toll. Frivolous mayors should be burned at the stake.
Where does Obama think he's getting a trillion from anyway?
I hope my gal Pal is mining for gold in Alaska. It's the only way we're going to get out of debt. |
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The last time I read the Constitution the President does not control the purse strings. For A guy who was suppose to have taught the Constitution I wonder what he was teaching his students. The Democrat Congress can force him to sign any bill they want passed. I would love to be there when they hand him that spending bill two hours before he has to sign it at the end of the fiscal year. |
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I love it when I hear Libs and Demo-rats saying that Bush spent too much Fed dollars on the war and such. They don't stop and think that Pres. Bush LOWERED taxes (which expire 2010) and kept terrorist from attack the USA again. But what is Obama going to be doing? Spending $2 trillion over the next 2 years on what? It doesn't matter doesn't matter on what. The point is he is SPENDING!!!!!!!! So, shut up you Libs and Demo-rats, Your "guy" is spending ALOT too!!! |
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some improvements can be done around my place.
who do I contact??
Don't see anything on that list that's not "Pork" |
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"ban all earmarks"????????
I can't stop laughing!!!!
Obama in little over 3 yrs in Senate requested over 930+ million in earmarks.......
I'm no great McCain fan, but he is about the ONLY one in Congress to hold the line against earmarks........
BTW......The Congressional bldg. won't be the only place where you'll find upcoming "earmarks"...
with ears the size of Barry O's, I imagine both sides of all hallways in the White House will be covered with ear "marks" after Jan 20th..... |
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Is that all you can come up with? "Yeah the Dems did something BUT THE REPS DID IT TOO!" I don't know how you, or anyone, can view yourself as an intelligent debator, when all your posts are mindless finger pointing. How about explaining to us "Rethugs" why this extra spending is good? Or do you even have a standard beyond "Republicans are evil?"
Seriously, this site should have better people arguing for the liberal side than some girl who makes knee-jerk posts because a car with a "Vote Bush" sticker ran over her cat. Not that I wouldn't sympathize with anger over the loss of a cat, mind you, but there are better things to do for that sake. |
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The only malcontent we see here is you. |
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All of Barack Obama's statements come with an expiration date. All of them.
The "no pork" statement's time has come to be pulled off the shelf and thrown in the Dumpster now that there are constituents to be rewarded with taxpayers' money. |
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It costs $94 million to make a parking garage? |
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Just say NO to ever increasing pork barrel spending. The states got themselves into this mess (mine included) and the states should get themselves back out of it.
If we the people are required to "live within our means" the states and feds should be required to as well.
Enough is enough already. My grandchildrens grandchildren are still going to be paying for this boondoogle after I am long gone. |
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