Republican's Misleading Moaning About Waste

By: Macduff
Published On: 9/25/2008 5:36:11 PM

The Republicans have mailed to Virginia voters a brochure complaining about "Outrageous Democrat Waste."  They claim that "In 2008 total pork spending was $17.2 BILLION up 30% from 2007." The message, they conclude, is to vote Republican in order to "stop wasteful spending."

Of course, the Republicans neglect to note that at that level, the 2008 pork barrel spending (as defined by Citizens Against Government Waste) is less than any year in which the Bush-led Republicans controlled Congress.  Annual pork barrel spending by Congress, according to CAGW data has been as follows (in billions of dollars):

2001 $18.5
2002 $20.1
2003 $22.5
2004 $22.9
2005    $27.3    
2006    $29.0    
2007    $13.2    
2008 $17.2    

In every year this decade, Alaska has led the Nation in per-citizen pork barrel spending.  At its peak, Alaska's share was 30 times the national average.

In 1990s, pork barrel spending ranged from roughly one-tenth to one-half the Republican's peak spending years.

Yessiree, once again, trust the Republicans to take care of your money and to tell you the truth.

(You can see the data for yourself at http://www.cagw.org/site/PageS...
 

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