CAGW Issues 'No Pork' Challenge to Congress on Hurricane Relief

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=52456

CAGW Issues 'No Pork' Challenge to Congress on Hurricane Relief; Urges Cost Offset by Eliminating Highway Bill Pork

9/1/2005 3:10:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Tom Finnigan of Citizens Against Government Waste, 202-253-3852, Web: http://www.cagw.org

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today challenged members of Congress to block funding for unrelated pork projects in its aid package for hurricane recovery, and to help offset the bill's cost by returning the $24 billion worth of earmarks in the recently enacted highway bill. Congressional leaders expect to negotiate an emergency supplemental spending bill when Congress reconvenes next week. Hurricane Katrina has been called the most expensive disaster in the country's history. One expert said that federal aid could top $30 billion, which will add to the $331 billion deficit predicted for fiscal 2005.

"In the past, Congress has shortchanged our troops, disaster victims, and taxpayers by including self-serving pork projects in emergency spending bills," CAGW President Tom Schatz said. "Maybe this time, the widespread devastation and loss of life will shame them into forgoing egregious spending that will hinder recovery efforts and add to the deficit."

Emergency supplemental bills have become a magnet for pork because they do not count against House and Senate budget caps and such bills are always signed by the President. Past examples include:

-- In April 2005, Congress passed the $80 billion Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief (H.R. 1268), which included $25 million for the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery in Montana and $500,000 for the oral history of the Negotiated Settlement Project at University of Nevada Reno and the Fire Sciences Academy in Elko, Nevada.

-- In October 2003, Congress included $65 million worth of extraneous projects in the fiscal 2003 Emergency Supplemental portion of the fiscal 2004 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. President Bush requested $1.9 billion to help cover natural disasters, homeland security, and costs associated with the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) grabbed $1.4 million for three projects in Pennsylvania, including $1 million to establish centers of excellence for the treatment of autism and $200,000 for the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine for a minority outreach program.

-- In April 2003, Congress passed a $78.5 billion War Supplemental Appropriations bill. Lawmakers shamefully seized the opportunity to tack on funds for 29 unrelated projects, which cost more than $348 million, including: $110 million for the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa; $22.7 million for a Capitol power plant; and $200,000 for Light of Life Ministries in Allegheny County, Pa.

"Every disaster warrants an appropriate response," Schatz concluded. "But Congress will confirm taxpayers' worst assumptions if it hijacks this tragedy for parochial interests. Members of Congress should help offset the cost of the supplemental by returning the $24 billion for the 6,400 earmarks in the highway bill."

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.