CAGW’s Pork PatrolSM takes a closer look at fiscal 2000 transportation pork | Citizens Against Government Waste

CAGW’s Pork PatrolSM takes a closer look at fiscal 2000 transportation pork

Press Release

Transportation pork is always on the griddle for hungry appropriators flush with cash.  The fiscal 2000 transportation spending bill brings taxpayers some truly outlandish pork on wheels.  Here are just a few morsels in the bill, signed into law by the President on Oct. 9, 1999:

  • Alaska Transportation Pork:  $18.4 million added by the Senate for 6 transportation projects in the home state of Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), including $3 million Alaska Intelligent Transportation Systems.
  • New Haven, Conn. Trolley Cars:  Although not included in the President’s budget, the House added $250,000 for trolley cars in the district (and home town) of House Appropriator Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.).
  • National Welfare to Work Center:  A worthy goal, but not exactly a transportation issue.  This $1 million earmark is going to the University of Illinois – the alma mater of House Appropriator Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.).
  • Montana Transportation Pork:  Montana’s favorite purveyor of pork, Senate Appropriator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), will be walking away with at least $15.8 million in transportation earmarks in fiscal 2000 – including $400,000 for the Kalispell Bus Barn Facility.
  • TransCenter, White Plains, N.Y.:  A $1 million earmark for the TransCenter transportation center in the district of House Appropriator Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.).
  • Potomac River Ferry, Va.:  A $500,000 earmark for a Potomac River car ferry in the district of House Transportation Appropriations Chairman Frank Wolf (R-Va.).
  • Savannah, Ga. Water Taxi:  Although not included in the President’s budget request, the House added $500,000 for a water taxi in the district of House Appropriator Jack Kingston (R-Ga.).  This is the exact amount Rep. Kingston was able to purloin for the project last year.
  • Seattle, Wash. Water Taxi:  With the help of a few friends on the House Appropriations Committee, Seattle was able to sail away with $500,000 in pork for a local water taxi – the same amount earmarked by the Senate last year.
  • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area:  This $3.4 million earmark is a gift from Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking member Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).  Delaware Water Gap has a long history of being a reservoir for pork – in 1997, the National Park Service spent $784,000 for an outhouse on the Pennsylvania side of the Gap.

 

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