Sunday, November 04, 2007

Your district or your country

Sure, most of our politicians try to get federal funds for their districts. But, are these funds being spent wisely? You've got to wonder when one legislator's district will get $192,500,000 from the bills currently being debated in Congress. Or, when $1.8 billion was added to a defense bill to pay 580 companies for work the Pentagon did not ask for. Or, when only 21 legislators were able to split $1 billion in earmarks, otherwise known as sole-source contracts (i.e., there is no bidding, if the legislator likes you that's it. There is no competition.)

I'm certain that some of this work that has been earmarked is of decent quality and of use to this country. But, why do we need a third National Drug Intelligence Center at a cost of $509,000,000? And why does it have to be located in Johnstown, PA? Is that really a hotbed of drug use for the nation?

Of what use is the National Defense Center for Environmental Excellence when it gives $350,000,000 to the 'non-profit' Concurrent Technologies, also of Johnstown, PA, and there is no way to measure the results we got from this money?

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