By Dan Conti
Washington, D. C. – The 2010 Congressional Pig Book identifying projects its authors consider "pork barrel" spending has just been released and it contains four projects in Kentucky for nearly $25 million. The publication is compiled by "citizens against government waste." Its president Tom Schatz says there's actually some good news in the study. Schatz says there were fewer pork projects this past year than the year before.
"The 2010 Congressional Pig Book shows 9,129 projects, which is a 10.2 percent decrease from the 10,160 in fiscal year 2009 and 16.5 billion dollars in earmarks, which is a 15.5 percent decrease from the 19.6 billion dollars in the fiscal year 2009."
This year's earmark inventory includes a 14-point-four million dollar chapel complex at Fort Campbell championed by senators Bunning and McConnell and congressman Ed Whitfield. The group defines "pork" as a line item in an appropriations bill that designates tax dollars for a specific purpose and circumvents established budget procedures.