It has been called a swamp but a new report released this week shows that it may be better described as a pig pen. The report has exposed wasteful government spending that is running up the national debt.
Known as the Congressional Pig Book, the report is an annual list of pork-barrel projects found in the annual government budget.
“The cost of earmarks doubled in the fiscal year 2018 from $6.8 billion to $14.7 billion,” explained Tim Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste.
Americans thought the practice of lawmakers of using federal funds for pet projects back home, like the infamous $398 million Alaska Bridge to nowhere, ended in 2011.
Schatz says that’s not the case because his organization uncovered 232 earmarks in this year’s appropriations bill.
“They’re simply less transparent and more secretive, rather than listing the names of the members of Congress, they just add a huge amount of money and then divide it up behind closed doors, calling the agencies,” he noted.
This year’s summary exposed things like $65 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund and $13 million going to local museums, opera houses, and theaters. The wasteful spending extends to numerous other areas, including:
- $17,000,000 for the Asia Foundation, which is “committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia”
- $16,700,000 for the East-West Center in Hawaii, a 183.1 percent increase over the $5.9 million earmarked in FY 2017
- $544,075,000 for three earmarks funding the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the largest amount ever earmarked for the vessel.
The pig book report states the purpose of the East-West Center is, “Intended to promote better relations with Pacific and Asian nations, the center was established by Congress in 1960 with no congressional hearings and over the State Department’s opposition.”
And the report says the LCS ship has been “a disaster since its inception, with problems that include a vaguely defined mission, a lack of firepower and survivability, and design flaws leading to cracks in the hull and corrosion.”
“I have spoken to many Missourians throughout the district and one of their top concerns is how Washington is spending more money than it brings in,” says Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler. “The current rate of spending is unsustainable! Our country’s debt crisis has met its boiling point, threatening our economic recovery and our children’s future opportunities. It is imperative we get our nation’s spending problem under control and get our budgetary priorities straight.”
US Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC) says this practice leads to shady favors, a corrupt government, and wasteful spending.
“I find it, and I believe a lot of the people I talk to in North Carolina think one of the most frustrating things is using the taxpayer’s dollars to arrange deals or get things to vote one way or the other,” Walker said. “That’s what we got to continue to improve on here in DC.”
Some lawmakers want to lift the earmark ban to ease the gridlock of spending bills. But Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) calls that a terrible idea.
Vicky Hartzler
“This notion that if you have a bunch of earmarks you can speed the appropriations just doesn’t wash,” he said. “All it does is leverage more spending and it’s the gateway drug to spending addiction.”
Hartzler has supported legislation to combat the reckless spending spree including a balanced budget amendment.
“Congress needs a firm structure in place to restrict its ability to spend uncontrollably. I continue to support and vote for legislation that freezes or cuts funding for federal programs and agencies that have ballooned to unsustainable sizes. Getting our fiscal house in order is a priority of the Fourth District of Missouri and it is a priority of mine as your representative,” she says.
These lawmakers argue earmarks are the antithesis of draining the swamp, and they are fighting to see them banned once and for all.
