The term pork barrel politics usually refers to spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support, either in the form of campaign contributions or votes. Typically, “pork” involves funding for government programs whose economic or service benefits are concentrated in a particular area but whose costs are spread among all taxpayers. [Source: Wikipedia]
“That’s all folks!”
This is exactly what you can say if the American people allow Congress and Pres. Obama to pass this “stimulus” bill. What a joke… this has nothing to do with stimulus and everything to do with PORK! Any politician that votes “yes” on this bill will assume the title of “PIG.”
So, here’s how the World’s Biggest Pork Chop is cut up…
• $819 billion total (as of 1/28/09)
• $550 billion in new spending, described as thoughtful and carefully targeted priority investments with unprecedented accountability measures built in.
• $275 billion in tax relief ($1,000 tax cut for families, $500 tax cut for individuals through SS payroll deductions)
• $ 90 billion for infrastructure
• $ 87 billion Medicaid aid to states
• $ 79 billion school districts/public colleges to prevent cutbacks
• $ 54 billion to encourage energy production from renewable sources
• $ 41 billion for additional school funding ($14 billion for school modernizations and repairs, $13 billion for Title I, $13 billion for IDEA special education funding, $1 billion for education technology)
• $ 24 billion for “health information technology to prevent medical mistakes, provide better care to patients and introduce cost-saving efficiencies” and “to provide for preventative care and to evaluate the most effective healthcare treatments.”
• $ 16 billion for science/technology ($10 billion for science facilities, research, and instrumentation; $6 billion to expand broadband to rural areas)
• $ 15 billion to increase Pell grants by $500
• $ 6 billion for the ambiguous “higher education modernization.”
[Source: Committee on Appropriations: January 15, 2009]
Doesn’t sound so bad, right? That’s why they just bullet point these BILLIONS in the broad strokes. But…
Here is a further breakdown of the Porky Package:
- $1.1$ Billion to SAVE AMTRAK
- $600 Million to purchase vehicles for the federal government
- $400 Million for Global Warming Research
- $2.4 Billion for Carbon Capture and Sequestration Technology Demonstration Projects
- $350 Million for Research into using Renewable Energy to power weapons systems and military bases
- $500 Million for Energy Efficient Manufacturing Demonstration Projects
- $3 Billion to the National Science Foundation
- $1.9 Billion to the Department of Energy for basic research into the physical sciences
- $600 Million to NASA
- $650 Million to help households convert to Digital TV
- $400 Million for NOAA Habitat Restoration
- $500 Million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to address maintenance backlogs at public facilities
When is the money being is going to be spent, and on what?
The government wouldn’t be able to spend at least one-fourth of a proposed $825 billion economic stimulus plan until after 2010 (oh yeah, there’s the stimulus we need! let’s wait for 2 years to see how bad this thing can get!), according to a preliminary report by the Congressional Business Office that suggests it may take longer than expected to boost the economy. The government would spend about $26 billion of the money this year and $110 billion more next year, the report said. About $103 billion would be spent in 2011, while $53 billion would be spent in 2012 and $63 billion between 2013 and 2019 (What the hell are these flippin politicians smoking? This is unreal. Is it just me or do you ask yourself the same things? I mean, really… what reality do these guys live in?)
• Less than $5 billion of the $30 billion set aside for highway spending would be spent within the next two years, the CBO said.
• Only $26 billion out of $274 billion in infrastructure spending would be delivered into the economy by the Sept. 30 end of the budget year, just 7 percent.
• Just one in seven dollars of a huge $18.5 billion investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs would be spent within a year and a half.
• About $907 million of a $6 billion plan to expand broadband access in rural and other underserved areas would be spent by 2011, CBO said.
• Just one-fourth of clean drinking water projects can be completed by October of next year.
• $275 billion worth of tax cuts to 95 percent of filers and a huge infusion of help for state governments is to be distributed into the economy more quickly.
[Note: The CBO's analysis applied only to 40 percent of the overall stimulus bill, and doesn't cover tax cuts or efforts; a CBO report outlining all of its costs is expected in the next week or so.]
• The Obama administration said $3 of every $4 in the package should be spent within 18 months to have maximum impact on jobs and taxpayers; if House or Senate versions of the bill do not spend the money as quickly, the White House will work with lawmakers to achieve the goal of spending 75% of the overall package over the next year and a half.
[Source: AP: Three-quarters of stimulus to go in 18 months; January 22, 2009; Bloomberg News: Much of Stimulus Wont Be Spent Before 2011, CBO Says; January 20, 2009; link]
Now that you have had your fill of Pork, what do you say we all go PIG OUT? - I think we deserve it because the politicians sure seem to be ‘eatin good these days.
