Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil Recruited to Defend $100,000 in 'Pork' Funding

Human Events Online ^ | December 6, 2004 | Chris Field

[hinterlander]

Pennsylvania's number-one four-legged weather prognosticator -- Punxsutawney Phil -- will make a Capitol Hill appearance on December 7, to "defend" a $100,000 grant for the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center. The furry weatherman will also "explain the difference between 'pork' and legitimate federal earmarks," according to one congressman's office.

The famous groundhog is coming to Washington, D.C., at the request of Rep. John Peterson (R.-Pa.) in order to rebut charges by the Citizens Against Government Waste, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Rep. Jeff Flake (R.-Ariz.), and others that the grant is one of the top "pork" projects in the 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.

According to a press release sent out today by Rep. Peterson's office "Punxsutawney Phil has woken up early from 'hibernation' and will travel to the nation's Capitol on Tuesday to defend the Weather Discovery Center."

Appearing with the Pennsylvanian marmot at the press conference "to defend a $100,000 grant which Peterson secured for the Discovery Center and to demonstrate the difference between 'pork-barrel' spending and legitimate federal earmarks" will be Rep. Peterson, Barry Myers, the founder and CEO of AccuWeather, and Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center administrators.

In the press release lauding the Capitol Hill visit by Punxsutawney Phil, Rep. Peterson asserted that the Center "is a unique museum that presents the history, science, technology and folklore of weather in an interactive setting that is not only educational for young people, but fun for the whole family" and that calling the $100K grant "'pork' without knowing anything about the project only serves to undermine the credibility of otherwise reputable organizations."

The press conference will occur Tuesday, December 7, at 2:00 p.m., at the Cannon Terrace at the Cannon House Office Building.

The staff contact for Rep. Peterson is Paul Feenstra, 202-226-8279.

Full Text of Rep. Peterson's Press Release

[HenryLeeII]

Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil Recruited to Defend $100,000 in 'Pork' Funding

Well of course ol' Phil's gonna support pork - he doesn't want people eating groundhogs now, does he?

[NJ_gent]

Now there's a good way to show the citizens of this nation that you're serious about not wasting their money - fly a rodent into Washington to give a seminar.

I swear, these guys just don't care anymore. Are we ever going to stand up and say that enough is enough?

[q_an_a]

I'm calling "Phil - Phil the weatherman" and asking him if he thinks the festival is worth the love of a giant Rat. Too many people learned valuable lessons from Phil, ON Groundhog Day- to give up the support of the entire community - including the US Gov.

[jigsaw]

...fly a rodent into Washington to give a seminar.

Hey, don't mock it. It works for the RATS all the time.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

[goldstategop]

The GOP has become the RAT party. Nice to know Punxsutawney Phil is its new icon.

[Dead Corpse]

Is weather forecasting in the Constitution anywhere? How about rodent support?

THEN WTF IS GOING ON HERE???!?!?!?!?

[jz638]

good luck finding a hotel that allows groundhogs.

[Gondring]

I hate the method, but the point is important. Rather than blast away at anything as "pork," this $100K is going to something good, at least, rather than the HUGE entitlement programs out there.

While people blast the debatable projects, the 'rats sneak away to steal lots more with the REAL pork.

[NJ_gent]

"It works for the RATS all the time."

Ok, so then how did so many rats end up with an 'R' next to their names? Isn't it an 'R' who's blowing your money and mine on flying this stupid thing into town to defend blowing your money and mine on something the Feds have no business funding? I hope the city calls an exterminator. :-)

[NJ_gent]

"this $100K is going to something good"

Please point to the section of the Constitution which provides for funding everything in the world that's "good".

The Federal government has a small set of explicitly defined powers granted in the US Constitution. Flying rodents into town to defend $100,000 weather projects a'int one of them.

[Dan from Michigan]

If I was running a primary, I'd be using that groundhog, some clips of 1994, and calling the ad "Groundhog Day".

That's just too easy for an opponent.

[Dead Corpse]

Debatable? Are you kidding? Can you find the spot in the Constitution that allows the FedGov to spend out tax money on a friggin' GROUND HOG?

I don't care if it was $10. If it isn't in the Constitution, then they have no RIGHT, no POWER, and no LEGAL standing for doing so. Period. End of story.

The entitlement programs are an even worse traveesty but this is adding insult to injury.

[jigsaw]

I actually agree with both of you. The Republicans should be absolutely ashamed of their spending, but then so should voters who vote them in. We've gotten what we've voted for.

[KarlInOhio]

. To cry "pork" without knowing anything about the project only serves to undermine the credibility of otherwise reputable organizations,

Since we know something about it I will not call it "pork". I will call it "an obscene waste of the taxpayers' money and a blatantly unconstitutional money grab." Now isn't that more accurate than "pork".

[NJ_gent]

"We've gotten what we've voted for."

We've gotten largely what the masses of uneducated voters have voted for. Ask 100 people who don't participate in political forums like this why they voted for the people they voted for and I'll bet you at least half can't give you good or accurate reasons. Heck, I'll bet 1/3 will tell you they just voted for whoever had the 'D' or 'R' next to their name without knowing anything about them. The question for those of us who actually do care is, how do we educate the masses? Educated masses would have never allowed Specter to make it past Toomey.

[Ditto]

Flying rodents into town to defend $100,000 weather projects a'int one of them.

Punxsutawney to Capital Hill is a 3 hour drive, tops.

BTW. I don't know anything about this "science center" but do people here really think that weather forecasting is something the Feds shouldn't do?

Should the Navy know if a hurricane is on the way? Should the Army know if a blizzard is due? Should people be warned if a tornado is coming? Should we have waited 30 years for weather satellites that have saved many thousand of American lives until Bernie Swartz had the ability to launch them into orbit?

True. The Federal government does many things that the Framers of the Constitution never imagined. But some of those things I am sure the Framers would have more than approved if they knew the possibilities. Weather forecasting is specifically among the "sciences" the Framers talked about encouraging and supporting the same as they supported Light Houses and other "improvements" that could save lives and boost commerce.

[hinterlander]

do people here really think that weather forecasting is something the Feds shouldn't do?

Did you read the full press release that's linked in the article? This science center is a "museum" -- not a weather-forecasting center:

"The Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center is a unique museum that presents the history, science, technology and folklore of weather in an interactive setting that is not only educational for young people, but fun for the whole family," said Peterson. "This one-of-a-kind museum will help promote tourism in a beautiful, historic region of the country that has been struggling economically. To cry "pork" without knowing anything about the project only serves to undermine the credibility of otherwise reputable organizations, and I hope they will take time to visit Punxsutawney with their families and join the thousands of others who have experienced the unique Weather Discovery Center for themselves."

[NJ_gent]

"Punxsutawney to Capital Hill is a 3 hour drive, tops."

Is someone driving this thing to the Hill in their personal vehicle off the government's (our) time and dime?

"BTW. I don't know anything about this "science center" but do people here really think that weather forecasting is something the Feds shouldn't do?"

Weather forcasting in general? To the extent that it involves protecting folks against disasters such as hurricanes by providing an early warning, as well as to assist troops in combat. Local forecasting and weather information ought to be provided by local news organizations and local governments if citizens choose to pay for such a thing. Is this particular project something worthwhile? $100,000 is too small to be of large-scale use. Likely, this is a grant for something kids get to walk through. I've noticed a pattern of good behavior by the group challenging this. They seem to have their heads on straight about where to slam government waste.

In either case, this entire stunt is ridiculous and marginalizes the concerns of a group of citizens who are apparently tired of watching their money burned in the streets of Washington while pork-loaded Congressmen giggle like schoolgirls. When I look at the national debt, I look at my own debts. When I'm in debt, I look for every way I can save, not spend.

[avg_freeper]

We're not going to play by their rules any longer.

[Willie Green]

Punxsutawney to Capital Hill is a 3 hour drive, tops.

Mapquest says Punxy to DC is 246 miles, 4½ hours.

But who is this Barry Myers???
I thought Joe DiNardo invented accuweather 'nat.

[Ditto]

Did you read the full press release that's linked in the article? This science center is a "museum" -- not a weather-forecasting center:

Yes. I read it. And I said I know nothing about the merits of this "science center" -- i.e. museum. Is it worth Government money? I don't know. Is the Smithsonian? Is Independence Hall? Liberty Island? Kitty Hawk? The Gettysburg battlefield? Reagan's birthplace?

Did you read the article? Where in the article did it say that the government was paying to fly a rodent to Washington? I missed that part. Sounded to me like the folks who asked for the grant were dragging Phil down there for some publicity. It should make for some nice photo ops and maybe get a few more folks to Punxy for Feb 2.

[A Navy Vet]

Don't drive angry. DON'T drive angry!

[xsmommy]

4 hours if you are flying down the Tpike and not stopping at Breezewood to go to the bathroom. i hope Phil can hold it for that long... my kids sure can't. and you Joe DiNardo sure dang did invent accuweather

[secretagent]

Can you find the spot in the Constitution that allows the FedGov to spend out tax money on a friggin' GROUND HOG?

I think its in the part about putting everyone, in general, on welfare. Something like that.