The New York Times has a report today headlined "Ease a Little Guilt, Provide Some Jobs; It's Pork on the Hill" discussing the FY 2004 omnibus spending bill. Excerpt:
Every state — indeed nearly every Congressional district, no matter Democratic or Republican — is the recipient of one pork project or another. The measure includes $200,000 for the University of Hawaii to produce a documentary on the Kalahari Bushmen, $220,000 to renovate a blueberry research center at the University of Maine and, in a provision Senator Tom Daschle, the Democratic leader, called "most ironic," $500,000 for the "Exercise in Hard Choices" program at the University of Akron, which examines how Congress makes budget decisions.
Tom Daschle's campaign website carries the theme "Tom Daschle Delivers for South Dakota," which sends a message as subtle as a sledgehammer that he will bring home the pork, as long as South Dakotans just forget about his liberal voting record. The problem is, he's NOT bringing it home, and what's more, he's suddenly become some sort of moral exhibitionist about pork-barrel spending, which contradicts his campaign theme. As reported earlier, Tom Daschle objected to a unanimous consent motion that would have allowed this omnibus spending bill to pass, which contained money for, among other things, the construction of a nursing home on the Cheyenne River Reservation, as well as money to renovate the infrastructure of Corsica, SD. Earlier, Tom Daschle refused to use his so-called clout to urge his caucus to support the energy bill, which would have been good for ethanol.
We need a senator who votes right on the issues, AND at the same time brings home the bacon. Tom Daschle certainly does not fit that description.
Recent Comments