In an effort to keep the American people informed about where their tax dollars are going and to keep politicians accountable, we are bringing to you a regular list of pork projects delivered fresh from the fiscal 2004 omnibus spending bill:
$200,000 to Greene County, Pennsylvania for renovation of a community center.
-If the people of Greene County don't care enough about their community center to pay for its renovation themselves, then why should we pay for it?
$2,000,000 U.S. 31 South Bend to Indianapolis Freeway project.
$1,000,000 South Bend TRANSPO Bus Facilities, Indiana.
$400,000 City of South Bend, Indiana, for site acquisition and demolition for the Studebaker Corridor redevelopment initiative.
-Freshman Rep. Chris Chocola (R.-Ind.) learns the art of porkbarreling as he prepares to defend this extremely competitive South Bend district. In addition to building another unnecessary freeway, federal taxpayers will pony up so that empty TRANSPO buses can cruise the streets of my hometown.
$250,000 for acid rain research at the University of Vermont.
$100,000 for the University of Vermont's Proctor Maple Research Center to continue mercury deposition monitoring effects.
$100,000 for the University of Vermont's land use mapping initiative.
$200,000 for the Vermont Department of Agriculture to work with conservation districts and local communities to reduce nonpoint source run-off in the Allen Brook watershed.
$300,000 for CCTA Intelligent Transportation Systems, Vermont.
$300,000 Vermont Child Care Industry and Careers Council for a Childcare Apprenticeship Project.
-Again, President Bush lets Sen. Pat Leahy (D.-Vt.) plunder the taxpayer with these dubious projects that keep Vermont's ailing, backward economy alive. This happens even as Leahy holds Bush's well-qualified judicial nominees hostage. If Bush and other Republicans were really serious about his judges, items like these and many others would not be in the omnibus bill.
