The harrowing events of September 11 reminded the country of the importance of national defense and intelligence.  Congress’ job in the coming weeks, while debating appropriations, should be how to rebuild the military without succumbing to the temptation of pork.  Every pork project inserted into an appropriations bill comes with a price tag – fiscally and militarily.  For example, each Tomahawk Cruise Missile costs $1 million; each Maverick Missile costs $22,387; and, each F-16 fighter costs $20 million.  In the fiscal 2002 House and Senate Commerce/Justice/State Appropriations (CJS) bills , Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) found 401 porcine projects, totaling $652.2 million.  This is enough to purchase 652 Tomahawk Missiles, 29,124 Maverick Missiles or 32 F-16 fighters.

• Majority Leadership May Have Its Privileges…  Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Ernest “Fritz” Hollings (D-S.C.) reaped the fruits of his position by earmarking $18.7 million for his home state, including:  $5 million for the Coastal Plain Police Initiative; $300,000 for the Low Country Children’s Center; and $185,000 for technology upgrades at the Charleston Sheriff’s Department.  18 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles.

• …But So Does Minority Status.  Losing his position as Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman did not curtail now-Ranking Member Ted Stevens’ (R-Alaska) penchant for pork.  Sen. Stevens earmarked $19.8 million for Alaska, including:  $2 million to train village public safety officers; $1.1 million for rural alcohol interdiction; and $250,000 for the Downtown Progress Program.  Almost enough for 1 F-16 Fighter.

• Publicly Funded Non-Profit.  Senate appropriators earmarked $4.5 million for the National District Attorneys Association, a non-profit group that sponsors continuing education for district attorneys and prosecutors.  The group received $40,000 in private contributions in 1999 – a drop in the bucket compared to the $4.1 million in government grants it scored that year.  201 Maverick Missiles.

• Academics or Arms?  Universities in the state of Senate Appropriations Committee member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) received substantial windfalls, including $6 million for the National Center for Justice and the Rule of Law at the University of Mississippi and $1.6 million for crime identification technology training at the University of Southern Mississippi.  7 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles and 26 Maverick Missiles.

• Give National Defense A Chance.  Instead, Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Byron Dorgan (D-S.D.) earmarked $350,000 for “Project Peacemaker” at Turtle Mountain Community College in his home state.  The project received the same appropriation last year.  15 Maverick Missiles.

• Arts and Entertainment.  More than $3.9 million was earmarked by the Senate for off-duty activities, including: $3 million by Appropriations Committee member Larry Craig (R-Idaho) for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Project; $605,000 for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry; and, in the state of Appropriations Committee member Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), $350,000 for the Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet.  Almost enough for 4 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles.