Porker of the Month
by Stix1972 (R-IL) (VRWC) ~ October 31st, 2007. Filed under: Better not Larger Government.
Yes it is time for the porker of the month again at Citizens Against Government Waste. And this months winner is Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.)
CAGW Names Sen. Shelby Porker of the Month
Washington
,D.C.
- Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today named Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) Porker of the Month for October 2007 for an $11 million Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) earmark for his alma mater.Sen. Shelby’s project was the largest of 401 earmarks worth $191.2 million in the HRSA section of the Senate’s 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) Appropriations Act. Sen. Shelby’s $11 million is listed in the bill as going to the ”
University
ofAlabama
[UA],Tuscaloosa
,
AL
for construction, renovation, and equipment” but a press release on Sen. Shelby’s website specified that a “70,000 square foot interdisciplinary health services building” would be constructed.UA’s new health building will be funded by virtue of the senator’s position on the LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee as well as his status as an alumnus. Almost half of the HRSA earmarks went to 15 LHHS subcommittee members and 60 percent went to the 29 members of the full committee. The Washington Times reported on October 15 that $42 million - 20 percent - was earmarked for the alma maters of members of Congress. The average project for those schools was three times higher than the amount provided for other earmarks. The neediest healthcare centers in the country cannot be in the states of appropriators and the most deserving schools those of lawmakers.
When lawmakers interfere and hand out their own funding, HRSA’s main goals suffer. A 2005 ExpectMore.gov assessment of HRSA earmarks found that they “are not subject to a competitive or merit-based process to ensure higher priorities are funded first” and “divert people and associated financial resources from HRSA’s core mission activities.”
This is not the first building Sen. Shelby funded via an earmark for the school he attended for undergraduate and law. In 2004, Shelby Hall opened at UA, one of the largest buildings on campus. The building was named after him, not because of a personal donation, but because Sen. Shelby was able to steer $35.5 million worth of federal funds to the facility. That is a generous endowment from the taxpayers of
America
for which Sen. Shelby gets credit.Since October 1, the senator has issued 16 press releases, of which 11 related to earmarks. Ironically, his first press release of the month was to announce the introduction of a constitutional amendment to balance the budget.
For being the poster child for HRSA earmark abuse with the largest project directed to his alma mater, CAGW names Sen. Richard Shelby its October 2007 Porker of the Month.
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 is a dubious honor given to lawmakers, government officials, and political candidates who have shown a blatant disregard for the interests of taxpayers.
Crossposted at Stix Blog
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October 31st, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Porker of the Month
Yes it is time for the porker of the month again at Citizens Against Government Waste. And this months winner is Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) CAGW Names Sen. Shelby Porker of the Month Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste
November 1st, 2007 at 3:17 am
Stix Doug! What do you think? I think all your hard work is paying off! I really appretiate all that you have done to grow the Grizzly Groundswell and humor my continued emails in search of feedback and problem solving.
I hate to ask, but do you remember all those sites you signed up the Grizzly Groundswell for? Do you think you could go back into them and update the new URL? I would be grateful!
Hey, great post reminding us that we have to uphold our fellow Republican and right them when a socialist squirrel or flaw in their character would persuade them to do something so stupid!
Wow, that is a Porker! Are him and Sen. Rangel buddies? This just goes to show that socialist are prevelent in our party as well. Greed when utilized in a productive way can be a God send giving unending vigor to those who build and create jobs. When greed is utilized towards socialist gain from tax payers and others, this is very ugly.
It is easier to go and legally steal the money by legistlation from the American citizen then it is to earn it by the intellect and labor of ones own hands. This is why every generation must be taught about the need to dissuade socialist thought. Socialism is a shameful way to prove your failure to contribute and share in the blessings God bestowes.
I think Rino season has just opened in Alabama!
~Teddy Bear