Midland Projects in "Pig Book"
Four Midland projects totaling $880,000 made the just-released 2006 edition of the Congressional Pig Book, an "annual compilation of the pork-barrel projects in the federal budget" published by the Citizens Against Government Waste. This year's Pig Book documents 9,963 projects costing about $29 billion of our taxes paid to the federal government.
The four local projects making the list are as follows (taken directly from the Pig Book database):
| State | Cost | Description | Status | Appropriation | Fiscal Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TX | $80,000 | Midland bus facilities (Formula and Bus Grants) | NBR, C | TRANS | 06 |
| TX | $50,000 | Midland bus facilities (Formula and Bus Grants) | NBR, C | TRANS | 06 |
| TX | $500,000 | Midland County Board of Commissioners Connection (Formula and Bus Grants) | NBR, C | TRANS | 06 |
| TX | $250,000 | City of Midland, for the renovation of downtown Midland (Economic Development Initiative) | NBR, C | TRANS | 06 |
The code in the Status column means "No Budget Request" (NBR), "Added in Conference" (C). The Appropriation is classified as "Transportation" (TRANS).
The CAGW defines "pork" as any project that meets at least two of the following criteria:
- Requested by only one chamber of Congress
- Not specifically authorized
- Not competitively awarded
- Not requested by the President
- Greatly exceeds the President’s budget request or the previous year’s funding
- Not the subject of congressional hearings
- Serves only a local or special interest.
Less than $1 million out of $29 billion. Hmm. We seem to be underachieving in this important area. Based simply on a per capita computation, we got pork of in the pitiful amount of $8.80 per resident, while the nation as a whole was treated to more than $96 per person (using a total population figger of 300 million). Well, maybe this is one time that it's OK not to be at the top of the list.
Technorati tag: Pig Book
Ha...our motto is "we make the amazing seem preposterous!" Or something like that. If we had a motto.
Anyway, not to disclose a trade secret or anything, but I heard the guys on Fox News talking about the Pig Book and so I decided to take a look for myself.
Posted by: Eric at April 6, 2006 09:13 PMWell, I think it would be good to be on the top of this list. We're still spending this $96 a piece, but only $8 is coming back locally. We're paying for pork barrel projects we'll neither seen nor heard of.
Although it would be best to cut all pork altogether.
Looks like W. Texas all around isn't gettin our share. Odessa is only getting $400,000, ($4 per person), San Angelo $150,000 ($1.50 per person)
Posted by: Bert at April 17, 2006 04:49 PMAbout the publisher
Random Abbye photos...
Random Thursday: The Abbreviated Tuesday Political Edition
More rattler than meets the eye
Poop happens. And then disappears.
How the West was Won
Beware of Vampire Dog
Tieing? There's no tieing in gymnastics!
NBC Bungles Web Video
Random Thursday: The Monday Olympics Edition
On Holiday
Random Thursday
Chair Play
Book Review: "The Road"
Education is paramount. Well, next to jet skiing.
Warbirds, Old and New
The Neighborhood:
West Texas Blogs:
[Midland unless otherwise indicated]
Other Texas Blogs:
The Business:
The Church:
The World:
In the past, I have wondered how you fill your days...where do you find this stuff? You amaze me! :):)
Posted by: Janie at April 6, 2006 08:56 PM