1470 The No Pork Challenge

Today I suggested items that the different states could contribute to disaster relief, including Jesse Jackson's mouth for waste removal. But on September 1 Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has "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."

This would most likely be that $233 million dollar bridge to no where in Alaska that will benefit no one and may even hurt the locals.

It continues: "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.” "
Don't count on it, Tom. Pork buys votes and builds highways that are naming opportunities.

"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."

The announcement then lists the additional funding requests that made it into supplemental bills.

Than back track to this site's database and look at Louisiana for the various years. As a keyword, try "Army Corps of Engineers," or just the word "water."