East Tennessean

Issue date: 5/15/08 Section: ViewPoint

Media Credit: sxc.hu Pig Book highlights the pork barrel spending of American tax dollars every year, and the senators that supported or voted against the projects.

Ever wonder exactly where your tax money goes? You are not alone. The "Citizens Against Government Waste" is a non-profit, non-partisan, group devoted to eliminating unnecessary government spending. Each year, the CAGW releases the "Congressional Pig Book," which exposes the most outlandish pork barrel projects as well as the government leaders who sponsored them.
Even more astounding than the misuse of tax revenue are those who are actually asking for the money. This year's book features projects sponsored by senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
One bill New York Senator Hillary Clinton supported appropriated $1,339,500 for a separate, non-profit program called the "Abyssinian Development Corporation." The community development program is supposed to help increase housing, social services, education and economic opportunities in Harlem.
Don't get me wrong. This is a great idea, but it's not a government program. The U.S. is in a war, in the red, and possibly heading toward a recession. This is not the time to spend money on non-government projects.
The book says that $750,000 was given to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, N.Y. for one of four projects "funding presidential libraries." Hillary Clinton was one of the four New York government officials to request and sign for the funding.
The third appropriations bill Senator Clinton's name is on has to do with something we are all too familiar with when it comes to the Clinton family: jazz music. Hillary appropriated $390,000 for the "Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York."
Music is inspirational to all ages, but should the government be paying for it?
Illinois Senator Barack Obama's name can only be found on one federal appropriations bill for 2008. He supported a bill that gave $1,648,850 for the Shedd Aquarium. According to the "Pig Book," the aquarium's Web site states that it was a gift from "John Graves Shedd, a chairman of the board of Marshall Fields & Company." In 2004 the aquarium had a balance of "approximately $200 million," states the "Pig Book." I don't think the Shedd Aquarium is in too much need of government funding, do you?

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