oink oink . . . CAGW's annual Pig Book (Congressional pork) . . .

Citizen's Against Government Waste (CAGW) has published their 2004 Pig Book, a compendium of Congressional pork that made its way into the federal budget . . . oink oink, indeed . . .

http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2004

Introduction (excerpts)

This year’s total reveals that Congress porked out at record levels. For fiscal 2004, appropriators stuck 10,656 projects in the 13 appropriations bills, an increase of 13 percent over last year’s total of 9,362. In the last two years, the total number of projects has increased 28 percent. The cost of these projects in fiscal 2004 was $22.9 billion, or 1.6 percent more than last year’s total of $22.5 billion. In fact, the total cost of pork has increased by 14 percent since fiscal 2004. Total pork identified by Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) since 1991 adds up to $185 billion.

The top three increases in pork from fiscal 2003 to fiscal 2004 were: Foreign Operations from $181.4 million to $449 million (148 percent); Transportation/Treasury from $3.3 billion to $4.4 billion (33 percent); and Interior from $344 million $446 million (29 percent).

Alaska again led the nation with $808 per capita ($524 million), or 26 times the national pork average of $31. The runners up were Hawaii with $393 per capita ($494 million) and the District of Columbia with $321 per capita ($181 million). The common thread in the top two states is that they are represented by powerful senators and appropriators — Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), and the number two Democrat on that committee, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii).

Unless Congress enacts serious and meaningful budget reform, there could be another record level of pork in fiscal 2005. Tax dollars should be focused on protecting the nation, instead of being used to protect the incumbency of members of Congress.

- much more . . .

http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2004