Each year, Citizens Against Government Waste identifies pork-barrel projects in the federal budget as well as members of Congress the group deems responsible for the earmarks. Here’s a listing of the watchdog group’s “Pig Book” awards.
"Oinkers" award
The French Kiss Off
Representative Mike Thompson, D-Calif., for $211,509 in olive fruit fly research in Paris, France.
The Taxpayers Get Teed Off
House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., for $3 million for The First Tee in the defense appropriations bill.
The Tax Dollars on Drugs
Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., for $23 million for the National Drug Intelligence Center.
The Narcissist Award
Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., for $1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service.
The Pig in Sheep's Clothing
Montana Democratic Sens. Max Baucaus and Jon Tester for $148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute.
The Unidentified Fiscal Object
Rep. Ann Esshoo, D-Calif., for $1.6 million for the Allen Telescope Array.
The Money Doesn't Grow on Trees
Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.,for $344,540 for the city of Chicago GreenStreets Tree Planting Program.
The Porky and Bess
Award for $7.9 million for 36 theaters in 21 states.
The Pacific Fleeced
Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, for $173.2 million in defense pork.
The Taxpayers Get Steamed
Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Rep. Thomas Allen, D-Maine, for $188,000 for the Lobster Institute.
This Pork Was Made for Walking
Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., for $98,000 to develop a walking tour of Boydton, Virginia.
The Return to Sender
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,D-Nev., for $196,000 for the renovation and transformation of the historic downtown Post Office in Las Vegas.
I’m sure someone out there appreciates lobster and fruit flies. I wonder if they pay taxes.