Citizens Against Government Waste, a nonprofit organization, has unveiled its latest “Congressional Pig Book,” which details significant “pork-barrel” spending in the federal budget. This annual publication highlights numerous projects, many of which are controversial due to their high costs and questionable necessity. The report, covering the last fiscal year, identifies 8,222 earmarks amounting to an astonishing $22.7 billion in spending. These findings emphasize the ongoing issue of fiscal irresponsibility within both parties.
One of the biggest contributors to this spending was Rep. Susan Collins (R-ME), who topped the list with 231 earmarks totaling $575.6 million. This figure is 23.5 percent higher than that of the second-highest legislator, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who secured 185 earmarks costing $466.4 million. Much of this money was allocated to the Army Corps of Engineers, which has seen 7,566 earmarks costing $20.9 billion since 1996.
The report criticizes these earmarks, pointing out that they violate provisions in the Water Resources Development Act of 2014, which sought to limit such spending on water projects. Despite attempts to curb this practice, it continues to thrive, with both parties contributing to the issue.
Republicans made a notable effort to address this problem by banning earmarks in 2010. However, this ban was reversed by Democrats 11 years later. The Washington Examiner noted that in December 2022, Republicans voted to keep earmarks in spending bills, marking a significant setback for those aiming to reduce “pork” spending. This ongoing issue underscores the need for greater fiscal responsibility and transparency in government spending.
