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April 11, 2008
Pick the pork: a 23/6 ethics quiz
Your elected officials.
Last year, Congress passed some pretty tough ethics rules to curtail pork-barrel spending; then, because they are Congress, they immediately found ways to slither around those rules. Not only do we have to beware the "hard" earmarks (line items proposed in legislation), but now there are scads of hidden "soft" earmarks—spending "suggestions," if you will.
But what exactly is "pork"? Like porn, we all know it when we see it. Citizens Against Government Waste combed 2008's Appropriations Acts and found more than $17 billion worth.
How good a legislator are you? Can you identify which of the following items are phony pork-barrel projects, and which are actual items from the federal budget?
PICK THE PORK
Can you tell the real pork-barrel projects from the ones we just made up?
1) $800,000 for Alternative Medical Marijuana Research in six hospitals in Maine to determine whether the drug can alleviate inflammation of ocular tissues post-cataract surgery.
Actual pork project.
Fakin' bacon.
2) $38,000 for the Women's Care Center of Erie County, Pennsylvania for its Abstinence Advantage Program.
Actual pork project.
In a pig's eye.
3) $3,900,000 to Carnegie Hall’s National Music Education Program in memory of the late, great conductor, Isaac Stern.
Actual pork project.
Snort...
4) $2,000,000 for Aging Landing Gear Life Extension research and development.
Actual pork project.
Ham on bullshit.
5) $598,779 for Pecan Scab Research to combat diseases in the pecan.
Actual pork project.
A product of 23/6's fevered imagination.
6) $14,878,000 to the International Fund for Ireland to develop the Irish economy and foster their domestic relations.
Actual pork project.
Heap o' Blarney.
7) $4,240,000 for the National Ballet/Modern Jazz/African Dance Development Center – Washington, D.C.
Actual pork project.
This has to be made up.
8) $372,375 for the Hardwood Scanning Center to be spent on CT scans of logs in order to determine the best way to cut them.
Actual pork project.
Okay, this one I know is made up.
"Pork Barrel Remains Hidden in U.S. Budget" - NYT
