Washington, D.C. - With presidential primary season in full swing Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) jumped into the fray today with the announcement of its nominees for 2007 Porker of the Year.  Citizens may cast their ballots for the politician they think was the most reprehensible porker of 2007 in an online poll.  The six finalists were chosen by CAGW staff from among 12 worthy Porkers of the Month for 2007.  The candidates are:

• Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) - The House Majority Whip was November’s Porker of the Month for airdropping a $3 million earmark for the First Tee golf program into the fiscal 2008 Department of Defense Appropriations Act conference report.  In fiscal year 2008, he brought in 38 pork projects worth $62 million.
• Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) - The Senate Production, Income Protection and Price Support Agriculture Subcommittee Chair was December’s Porker of the Month for thwarting three amendments to the farm bill that would have provided some modest reform.  In fiscal year 2008, she brought in 96 pork projects worth $196.3 million.
• Rep. John 'Jack' Murtha (D-Pa.) - The House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chair was May’s Porker of the Month for throwing a temper tantrum and threatening his colleagues over a challenge to a $23 million pet project in the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 2008.  Rep. Murtha also purposefully put up roadblocks and barriers to hinder earmark accountability and reform.  In fiscal year 2008, he brought in 72 pork projects worth $149.2 million.
• Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) - The House Transportation Committee Chair was August’s Porker of the Month for proposing a “temporary” 5 cent increase in the gas tax in the wake of the Minnesota bridge collapse to raise $25 billion within three years for a new bridge trust fund.  In fiscal year 2008, he brought in 32 pork projects worth $87.9 million.
• Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) - The Senate Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member was October’s Porker of the Month for an $11 million Health Resources and Services Administration earmark for his alma mater, the University of Alabama.  In fiscal year 2008, he brought in 201 pork projects worth $174 million.
• Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) - The at-large representative was April’s Porker of the Month for defending earmarks and pledging to continue his state’s disproportionate harvest of federal tax dollars.  Rep. Young also placed a $10 million federal earmark for an unnecessary road project in Florida.  In fiscal year 2008, he brought in 19 pork projects worth $17.1 million.

The ballot and further details on each of the finalists can be found at swineline.org/porkeroftheyear.

Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation’s largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.  Porker of the Month and Porker of the Year are dubious honors given to lawmakers, government officials, and political candidates who have shown a blatant disregard for the interests of taxpayers.