Pork for my shrimp!
Posted on 03/02/2009 11:27:02 AM PST by mnehring
WASHINGTON — Rep. Ron Paul vehemently denounced the $410 billion catch-all spending bill approved last week by the House of Representatives.
But although the libertarian-leaning Republican from Lake Jackson cast a vote against the massive spending measure, his fingerprints were on some of the earmarks that helped inflate its cost.
Paul played a role in obtaining 22 earmarks worth $96.1 million, which led the Houston congressional delegation, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of more than 8,500 congressionally mandated projects inserted into the bill. His earmarks included repair projects to the Galveston Seawall damaged by Hurricane Ike and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
Following Paul was Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, who got earmarks worth $63.6 million. But it was a bipartisan spending spree. Just behind the GOP duo were Houston Democrats Al Green with $50.1 million in pet projects and Sheila Jackson Lee with $37.6 million.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
He’s baaaack...
Hypocrite.
Maybe. But at least the Intracoastal Waterway is a legitimate federal interest.
Pork for my shrimp!
Agreed. However, Mr. Paul should point out that there are useful projects that fall under federal purview, and then point out those things in the budget that should not be there.
I am so sick of these politicians. It is time to replace ALL of them...Republican brand and Democrat brand alike!!!!
What is the best way to get a good campaign started? How do you raise money? How do you get on the ballot? Is there any good websites out there with guidance/help on this? I used to be pretty happy here in Texas, but seeing this article makes my blood boil!!!
The problem is they have been lobbying to have the feds pay for something already budgeted to the State or Insurance companies.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2179904/posts
From the article:
“But although the libertarian-leaning Republican from Lake Jackson cast a vote against the massive spending measure, his fingerprints were on some of the earmarks that helped inflate its cost.”
Once again, the amount of the massive spending measure was already decided. Deciding where the money is spent does not inflate it’s cost, as claimed in the article.
Yes it does because it is part of contribution to the baseline.. anyone who has ever worked government contracts knows exactly about this. You are always ‘encouraged’ (or required) to meet or exceed all budgets with actual expenses because if it isn’t spent, the following years’ budget is reduced by what isn’t spent. On the contrary, if the budget is exceeded, it increases the budget by that amount next year. Yes, it already may have been budgeted, but if it isn’t spent, it reduces the baseline of the budget. IE, requesting it and spending it increases the long term federal budget. If it goes unspent, it reduces the baseline.
Going for a little double dipping I guess.
and then point out those things in the budget that should not be there.
This was the last half of my post. The Intracoastal Waterway is a federal project.
As to the rest of it, you are right.
Now, as a Texan, why not cause an increase in Texas shrimp? They are so much bigger than shrimp from elsewhere! (/sarcasm)
Everything is BIGGER and BETTER IN TEXAS! (HUMOR)
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