Piling on the Pork

The final vote on the Porkulus bill went through today in the Senate much as the vote yesterday. It has become more and more clear today however that many of the Senators don't even know what they are voting for. It defies logic that they could have read the thing in the short amount of time that they've had it. Here's a crib sheet from Sen. Tom Coburn, via Hot Air:

• $2 billion earmark for FutureGen near zero emissions powerplant in Mattoon, IL
• $39 billion slush fund for “state fiscal stabilization” bailout
• $5.5 billion for making federal buildings “green” (including $448 million for DHS HQ)
• $200 million for workplace safety in USDA facilities
• $275 million for flood prevention
• $65 million for watershed rehabilitation
• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges and libraries
• $650 million for the DTV transition coupon program
• $307 million for constructing NIST office buildings
• $1 billion for administrative costs and construction of NOAA office buildings
• $100 million for constructing U.S. Marshalls office buildings
• $300 million for constructing FBI office buildings
• $800 million for constructing Federal Prison System buildings and facilities
• $10 million to fight Mexican gunrunners
• $1.3 billion for NASA (including $450 million for “science” at NASA)
• $100 million to clean up sites used in early U.S. atomic energy program
• $10 million for urban canals
• $2 billion for manufacturing advanced batteries for hybrid cars
• $1.5 billion for carbon capture projects under sec. 703 of P.L. 110-140 (though section only authorizes $1 billion for five years)
• $300 million for hybrid and electric cars for federal employees
• $198 million to design and furnish the DHS headquarters
• $255 million for “priority procurements” at Coast Guard (polar ice breaker)
• $500 million for State and local fire stations
• $180 million for construction of Bureau of Land Management facilities
• $500 million for wildland fire management
• $110 million for construction for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• $522 million for construction for the Bureau of Indian Affairs
• $650 million for abandoned mine sites
• $75 million for the Smithsonian Institution
• $1.2 billion for summer jobs for youth
• $412 million for CDC headquarters
• $500 million earmark for NIH facilities in Bethesda, MD
• $160 million for “volunteers” at the Corp. for National and Community Service
• $750 earmark for the National Computer Center in MD
• $224 million for International Boundary and Water Commission – U.S. and Mexico
• $850 million for Amtrak
• $100 million for lead paint hazard reduction

Keep in mind, Obama continues to insist that there is no pork in this bill and at the same time, Chuck Schumer seems to contend that there is pork, but that the "chattering" classes don't really care.




Speaking on FOX this morning, Arlen Specter seemed clueless about the national health care provision in the bill, and said that "we need more time to look at the bill." Seriously? So why are you supporting it?! And then Senator Tester gets up there and says he doesn't think that is even IN the bill. Proof positive that he hasn't read it. I saw it. I read it. I can send him the page number.

This afternoon Sen. Ensign proposed that the upcoming meetings to reconcile the House and Senate versions be televised. Transparency and all that. I'm all for it! Must see TV!