Washington, D.C. — Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today named Rep.Terry Everett (R-Ala.) its March 2003 Porker of the Month for requesting funding for the National Peanut Festival in the recently passed fiscal 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill.  The bill contained 11 of the 13 regular appropriations bills approved each year by Congress, and was the “porkiest” bill in history.  Among the thousands of pet projects, Rep. Everett’s truly stands out.

After Rep. Everett asked for $200,000 to be earmarked for a new agricultural arena on the peanut festival grounds in Dothan, Alabama, he was surprised to find out that the Appropriations Committee graciously added an additional $2,500 to the project.  Rep. Everett admitted that he was quite shocked to see his request was even granted, let alone receive additional funds.  If this was truly such astonishment for Everett, why did he make the request in the first place?

Specifically, the arena is to be used mainly by the elderly and disabled citizens during festival events.  Although the facility has been in the planning stages for more than two years, architectural plans have yet to be developed.  Furthermore, it is up to festival organizers to raise an additional $300,000 before construction can begin.  Somehow, Rep. Everett felt that while the nation is fighting a war on terrorism and facing $300 billion budget deficits, it was critical to the country’s welfare to request this earmark.

For those taxpayers across the country who are interested in getting their money’s worth, they can travel to Dothan on October 31 to exchange peanut and SPAM recipes, as well as view country music performances, livestock, and ultimately the crowning of Miss National Peanut Festival.  For those unable to make the trip to the nine-day festivities, they can visit www.nationalpeanutfestival.com.

Incredibly, Rep. Everett defended his peanut pork by blaming this year’s appropriations process.  He claimed that it was difficult to know what earmarks were included in the 3,000 page bill, for which the usual three-day review period was waived.  Apparently, members of Congress were in a hurry to get home for the President’s Day recess in February to brag about the goodies they were bringing back to their congressional districts.  Rep. Everett appeared to be in even more of a rush considering he did not even stay around for the vote.

For getting all nutty during this year’s appropriations process, CAGW names Rep. Terry Everett March Porker of the Month.

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