We’ve Only Just Begun

(Washington, D.C.) — Even though Congress has not passed a budget resolution, the House last week passed the fiscal 2005 Interior Appropriations Act, H.R. 4568.  Picking up where they left off from last year, members stuffed the bill with enough pork to fill the Grand Canyon.  While the House only approved $19.7 billion of the nearly $20 billion requested by the Department of the Interior, it could have saved millions of dollars by leaving out pet projects for the districts of individual representatives. 

Below is a sampling of some of the pork the House added to the Interior Appropriations bill:

-$3,000,000 for fish passage and screening to improve the fish habitat in the Columbia River Basin in Washington state;

-$2,375,000 for projects added by House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Norm Dicks (D-Wash.):  $2,000,000 for Pacific Salmon Grants; $200,000 for Long Live the Kings; and $175,000 for the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group;

-$1,500,000 for conservation programs for species that “may be endangered” in the future, including: $750,000 for the Alaska sea otter; $300,000 for the Idaho sage grouse; $300,000 for the Pacific Fisher; $100,000 for the Tahoe yellow cress; and $50,000 for the slickspot peppergrass;

-$1,500,000 for wolf monitoring recovery programs;

-$795,000 added by House Interior Appropriations subcommittee member John Peterson (R-Pa.) for the Northeast Fishery Center in Pennsylvania to help improve fish production and increase fish-related tourism for the area;

-$200,000 for studies and activities for Florida’s manatee rescue and carcass salvage programs;

-$66,000 for the New Orleans Jazz Commission, which helps promote and preserve the histories of jazz musicians;

-$50,000 in the district of House Interior Appropriations subcommittee member George Nethercutt (R-Wash.) for the Lake Roosevelt Forum; and

-$49,000 in the district of House Interior Appropriations subcommittee member Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) for the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, which organizes the annual Johnstown FolkFest music festival.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.