Posted on 02/15/2005 3:51:48 PM PST by Libloather
Clinton, Schumer Named Co-Porkers of the Month
Melanie Hunter
Deputy Managing Editor
(CNSNews.com) - New York Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer have been named Co-Porkers of the Month for February by a taxpayer watchdog group for pledging to fight President Bush's efforts to reform the Community Development Block Grant program.
Schumer called Bush's plan to transfer the grant program to the Commerce Department and merge it with 17 other economic development programs a "meat axe approach" to reducing the deficit, adding that CDBGs "are the single most important tool that cities like New York have to grow."
According to Clinton, the program "is a lifeline for many individuals already struggling to make ends meet. And now the President wants to leave them out in the cold." But Citizens Against Government Waste said taxpayers have been the ones left out in the cold.
CAGW said local governments have "wide latitude" to determine how the grants are spent and Congress does a "poor job" tracking where the money goes. Past grants have included $19,000 for Christmas lights, $21,000 for a picnic, and $250,000 for "streetscape improvements," the group noted.
CAGW pointed out that funds for CDBGs are often diverted for other purposes, such as theaters, opera houses, and museums in wealthy areas. For example, last fall the Buffalo News reported that the city had spend most of the block grant money it had received over the past 30 years, the group said.
"Far from being an essential tool for combating poverty, CDBGs have become just another budgetary channel for pork and waste," CAGW said.
The CDBG program, which provides $4.7 billion to cities and towns nationwide in 2005, is on the list of 154 program cuts or terminations specified in Bush's 2006 budget plan. The program cuts will save $20 billion.
"Sen. Schumer makes the absurd contention that federal handouts are the engine of New York's economy. With a gross state product of $826 billion in 2001, 'losing' $150 million in CDBGs would hardly constitute a catastrophic blow to the state's economy," the group said.
"The real issue in New York is the negative impact of highest tax burden of any state - an undeniable drag on economic growth. New York City's rent control laws cause landlords to neglect capital improvements or abandon properties altogether," CAGW said.
"Sen. Clinton's comment that budget cuts will leave residents "out in the cold" is laced with irony, considering that recipients of CDBGs often drive local stores and real estate investors out of business," added CAGW.
"For resisting much-need reforms in a wasteful program, for exaggerating the supposed benefits of CDBGs, and for leaning on federal grants to cover up local problems, CAGW names New York Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer its February Porkers of the Month," the group concluded.
Surprised, anyone?
Yikes! From that headline, I though the two were steppin' out! Eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwww!!
Hillary must have gotten a face lift. That's the tightest her face had been in a0 years
If it hurts Hillary and Chucky it has to be good for the United States.
I wish they'd leave Hillary's thighs out of this.
If it hurts Hillary and Chucky it has to be good for the United States.
======
Exactly. The socialists cannot stand the idea of any taxpayer money (their absolute life blood) being removed from their control. Bush is no dummy and he realizes that the PORKERS are slopping it up at the government pig trough, he is working to move it out of their reach, so to speak.
*** SQEAL ALL YOU SOCIALIST PORKERS *** :-)
I noticed in my area, starting with Reagan's tax cuts, that as soon as the Fed cuts taxes state and local governments increase taxes to soak up the money.
I thought hillary was a conservative now, what happened?
Tell Hillary, Gov't programs are NOT "WHO WANTS TO BECOME A MILLIONAIRE" (want to use your lifeline?)
Momentary lapse.
We have the Majority, Why are we letting these jokers get this much (or any) Pork?
Now thats a great picture of Hitlery
We have the Majority, Why are we letting these jokers get this much (or any) Pork?
It is not just New York, it is all across the country that the CDBG grants go to. Most Cities, Counties and States get this money, it is over $4.5 BILLION dollars, it has been going on for around 20 years, all of your communities have received this money and have abused it. One such abuse I have head of is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, HUD funds were used to build that?? What does that have to do with HOUSING? It may have not been CDBG funds it might have been UDAG funds, which also came from HUD, and YOUR TAX DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! President Bush is right on in canelling this program, however it is just moving to the Dept of Commerce, not necessarily cancelled, but it might be in the future.
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York) announces
she will be participating in a new experimental BOTOX
treatment designed especially for aging communists.
The treatment is being sponsored by generous donations
from concerned Democrat Party Members.
"You know, I believe in always doing my best,"
oinked the Senator, right before she fainted and squashed
Sen. Ted Kennedy.
LOL
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