(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), America’s largest taxpayer watchdog group, announced today that Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah) earned its July “Porker of the Month” Award.  Sen. Bennett, whose home state is hosting the 2002 Winter Games, earned the award for wrangling $3.3 million in federal funds to test Olympic athletes for drugs.  That means taxpayers are footing the bill for 75 percent of the $4.3 million Olympic drug-testing budget.

According to Bennett, "A drug-free Games is an important message to send to the world. It is appropriate that the federal government take part in this anti-drug effort."

"The real war on cocaine, heroin, and other dangerous drugs continues across the country, but Sen. Bennett apparently thinks taxpayers should be more worried about those speed skaters who look just a bit too buff," remarked CAGW President Thomas Schatz.

"While illicit drug use of any kind — in or out of athletic competition — is unacceptable, do the organizers of the Olympic Games really need the U.S. government paying for their screening program?" Schatz continued.  "After all, the Salt Lake Olympic Committee expects to cash in on an $859 million joint marketing agreement, $443 million from broadcast rights, and $180 million from ticket sales.  With all that money rolling in, federal subsidies for drug testing are hardly necessary."  CAGW has long argued that all federal support for the Olympic Games should be repaid to taxpayers from the profits generated during the event.

Utah's beltway budget barons will capture millions more taxpayer dollars for highways, arenas, and trains for the Olympics.  While they are also questionable expenditures, at least these traditional pork projects will be around after the Games have ended.  The $3.3 million giveaway from Sen. Bennett will simply go up in smoke.

CAGW's "Porker of the Month" award is a dubious honor, given to lawmakers and government officials who have shown a blatant disregard for the interests of taxpayers.  Past recipients of the award include First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) and Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

For more information, see CAGW's web site at www.cagw.org.  CAGW is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.