Watchdogs Release 2009 Maine Piglet Book

(Augusta, Maine) - Today, representatives of Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) and The Maine Heritage Policy Center gathered on the steps of the state capitol in Augusta to unveil the 2009 Maine Piglet Book: The Book Augusta Doesn't Want You to Read.  Featured speakers included Maine Heritage Policy Center CEO Tarren Bragdon and CAGW Vice President for Policy David Williams.   The press conference will be streamed live from the steps of the Capitol Building and can be viewed at http://www.newmediatv.org/.  The report is the second Maine Piglet Book since 2007.  Combining MHPC’s expertise on the Maine state budget and CAGW’s pork-barrel and waste-fighting acumen, the report exposes $2 billion in wasteful spending, providing an essential management tool for Granite State legislators and taxpayers.

“Like knee-jerk politicians everywhere, elected officials in Maine tend to gravitate toward increasing taxes first, rather than looking for ways to reduce wasteful spending and manage their revenues more efficiently,” said David Williams.  “Just like Maine, states all over the country are faced with budget shortfalls.  Taxpayers should not be asked to pony up more money to underwrite the state’s profligate spending when there is $2 billion available to cut from the budget first.”

The 2009 Maine Piglet uncovered dozens of examples of wasteful and questionable spending by state and local officials, including:

• $435,224,338    State employees: Over-employed and over-compensated
• $192,940,000    State money borrowed with no voter approval
• $99,428,000      Questionable capital building project recommendations
• $11,900,000      New 55,000-sq. foot administrative building for 116 turnpike workers
• $6,000,000        Bankrupt taxpayer-funded museum
• $1,500,000        Department of Education migrant student fraud
• $102,000           Three paintings for a rest stop in Kennebunk
• $82,533            “Bottled Water” in 2008

“Maine taxpayers deserve better,” concluded Williams.  “This report indicates that there is a deficit of common sense in Augusta.”  The report is available online at www.cagw.org.  To schedule an interview, please contact Leslie Paige at 202-467-5300, or Martin Sheehan at (207) 321-2550.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.  The Maine Heritage Policy Center is a research and educational organization whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise; limited, constitutional government; individual freedom; and traditional American values - all for the purpose of providing public policy solutions that benefit the people of Maine.

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