(Washington, D.C.) – The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today commended the House Republican Leadership for opposing Senate add-ons that cost an additional $1.7 billion over the House’s version of the wartime supplemental appropriations bill.

The President’s request for $74.7 billion in funding covers the cost of war with Iraq, International Assistance Programs for countries aiding in the war, and homeland security.  Since Congress received the request, Senators have piled $1.7 billion for pork projects onto the bill, such as funding to repair a leaky dam in Vermont, abstinence education in Pennsylvania, and drought aid for catfish farmers.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) even amended Senate rules for mass mailings, claiming “This is directly related to the war effort.”  Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) bemoaned the repeal of the law on dueling, as he would “have shot a couple of the sons of bitches,” in reference to House members who have insisted that non-defense related items be excluded from the bill.

“Clearly, some members of Congress are using the war supplemental as an opportunity to purloin federal dollars for pet projects,” CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Every dollar that goes to these projects could be spent on our troops, homeland security, or Iraqi aid. Right now, this money should go where it is needed most and not to pork projects.”

This spending bill comes just two months after Congress passed the Omnibus Appropriations bill in February, “the porkiest bill ever.”  Earlier this week, Citizens Against Government Waste released its Congressional Pig Book, which revealed a record 9,362 pork projects costing $22.5 billion in pork for fiscal 2003.

“Apparently, some members of Congress have an undying hunger for pork that they are willing to feed even during wartime.  It is refreshing to know that some members stand opposed to this abuse of tax dollars,” Schatz concluded “Speaker Hastert should know the taxpayers are behind him every step of the way as he defends their wallets against the onslaught of Senate pork.”

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.