CAGW 2.0
April 29, 2008
by: Martin Rundle

Government WasteWatch, Spring/Summer 2008

Citizens Against Government Waste’s (CAGW) award-winning website – www.cagw.org – is the place on the Internet for information on how your elected representatives are spending your hard-earned tax dollars.  Our website features all of our publications, news releases, commentary, video clips, and research, including the 2008 Congressional Pig Book database.  CAGW’s website has been named one of Lycos.com’s top public policy sites, Campaigns and Elections magazine’s “Site of the Month,” and CNSNews.com’s “Site of the Week” and was identified by National Journal as one of the best sites for information on the federal budget.  More than 65,000 taxpayers receive our free monthly online newsletter, “E-News from CAGW,” and I hope you will subscribe today. 

As many of you know, new Internet technologies are revolutionizing the way information is disseminated, and over the past several months, CAGW has been building its online presence with some exciting new projects. 

The Swine Line:  CAGW’s blog provides taxpayers with up-to-the-minute breaking news on the happenings in Washington, D.C., and features biting commentary, video clips, and links to dozens of other national and state-based public policy groups.  Please visit today at www.swineline.org.

Pigfoot Podcasts:  Nothing draws attention like a guy dressed up in a giant pink pig suit.  Just ask “24” star Keifer Sutherland who couldn’t resist hamming it up with CAGW’s mascot last November on the National Mall.  In March, CAGW released its inaugural “Where’s Pigfoot” podcast video of Pigfoot attempting to crash CAGW’s “2007 Porker of the Year” winner Rep. John Murtha’s (D-Pa.) lobbyist filled fundraising bash at the Ritz-Carlton in Arlington, Virginia.  Posted on the video sharing website YouTube, the podcast has been viewed more than 11,000 times and is available on CAGW’s website and the Swine Line.

MySpace & Facebook:  CAGW is also expanding our reach to a new generation of taxpayer activists with our MySpace and Facebook pages.  Next time you are surfing these social networking sites, stop by and say hello! 

Shop CAGW:  What better way to support your favorite taxpayer watchdog group than by proudly wear CAGW logo apparel.  T-shirts, hats, and other merchandise are available at www.cafepress.com/CAGW – a portion of your total purchase goes to benefit CAGW!
         
Taxpayer News Wire

March 6 – The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) called for integrity in the procurement process after some members of Congress reacted angrily to the awarding of a $35 billion contract to Northrop Grumman Corp. and EADS to build the next generation of air refueling tankers.  The Government Accountability Office is currently reviewing the contract and should be allowed to finish the review process without interference from Congress.    

March 11 – CCAGW participated in a rally to support an amendment being offered by Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) to the 2009 budget resolution that will impose a year-long moratorium on congressional earmarks.

March 14 – CAGW named 71 senators who voted against an amendment to impose a one-year earmark moratorium in the fiscal year 2009 Budget Resolution March Porkers of the Month.  The amendment had fourteen bipartisan co-sponsors including all three presidential candidates.

April 2 – Pig Book Day!  CAGW released the 2008 Congressional Pig Book which identified 11,610 projects worth $17.2 billion in the 12 Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations bills at a national press conference.  Joining CAGW at the press conference were some of the staunchest opponents of congressional earmarks, including Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Reps. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), John Campbell (R-Calif.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Tom Price (R-Ga.), and Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).  The 2008 Pig Book and our searchable online database of all 11,610 projects are available online at www.cagw.org.

April 9 – In conjunction with the Illinois Policy Institute, CAGW released the 2008 Illinois Piglet Book, which identified $686 million in wasteful spending in the Illinois state budget.  The report is available at www.cagw.org. 

April 10 – CCAGW hailed the introduction of the aptly titled “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” Act, sponsored by Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.).  The bill would amend the Tax Code to allow individuals to make contributions above and beyond what they already pay in taxes.  Tax forms would include a line indicating how much each person would like to pay.  The bill is in response to those who have claimed to be unfairly undertaxed.

April 22 – CAGW named Reps. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) and Todd Tiahrt (R-Kans.) April Porkers of the Month for threatening to reverse the $35 billion Air Force refueling tanker contract award to Northrop Grumman.  The losing bidder, the Boeing Company, has large facilities in their states.

April 23 – In conjunction with the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, CAGW released the 2008 Tennessee Pork Report: Waste, Fraud, and Abuse of Your Tax Dollars Exposed, which identified $260 million in wasteful spending in the Tennessee state budget.  The report is available at www.cagw.org.