Porker Alert

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."

Thomas Jefferson

Spending other people's money is, apparently, extremely addicting. Just ask Nancy Pelosi.

We have written about Ms. Pelosi's flower and bottle water expenditures and plenty has been said about her use of military jets to ferry her (and her family) back and forth between Washington and San Francisco. Her latest use of three military planes to fly her entourage to Copenhagen for the global warming conference is just the latest example of a woman drunk on power, abusing taxpayer money. Exactly the kind of despot our Founders intended to limit when they crafted the Constitution.

Jefferson said it best: "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." Yet, Ms. Pelosi continues to spend and abuse. As does her counterpart, Harry Reid. And, sadly our president. They are the epitome of too much bad government.

Citizen's Against Waste sponsors a citizen election of the biggest Porker of the Month and publishes an annual list of the most egregious earmarks. I write of one in my (in process) book on taxes: The Power to Destroy.

"In FY 2008, the U.S. Congress pushed through $17.2 billion in pork attached to 12 appropriations bills. There were many moments to cherish but we will consider but one here; certainly not the biggest earmark but one of the most interesting.

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), a nineteen term representative, asked for and got $1,950,000 for a library and archives at the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at The City College of New York. In other words Congressman Rangel received $1.95 million dollars of my money and yours to finance a little library named for himself at a college in his district. He was challenged in his request by a mere two term republican from California, John Campbell who said, “You don’t agree with me or see any problem with us, as members, sending taxpayer funds in the creation of things named after ourselves while we’re still here?” Rangel did not. He responded, “I would have a problem if you did it, because I don’t think that you’ve been around long enough that having your name on something to inspire a building like this in a school. Huh?”

We would hope in today's devastating economic environment Congress would choose to act more responsibly, but alas our optimism is not rewarded. Maxine Waters just obtained an earmark for the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center. Ironic, to say the least. But, mostly, Ms. Waters simply demonstrates a cold, calculating lack of compassion for her constituents, the Constitution and for the dignity of her office. She rightly deserves to be awarded the CAGW Porker of the Month. And we suggest the award come with her very own copy of the Constitution.