The AP cries to Save Wasteful Riders and Pork in General

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finding practical ways to move from a republic towards a democracy and holding the media accountable for substantive, critical reporting of important issues....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080202/ap_on_el_pr/politics_of_pork

Oh this is rich... an article from CALVIN WOODWARD, an Associated Press Writer with the title, McCain's war on pork could cut services. Where to start? How about the title which to me using the term services implies regular services and programs from the federal government and entitlement programs like Medicaid and Social Security. But in fact riders and pork barrel legislation have nothing to do with government services so let's set the record straight. The AP article doesn't mention "services" again but goes straight to the propaganda with, Earmarks are only pork when someone else is feasting on them. On your plate, they're veggies. They are the train that takes you to visit Aunt Betty, or the health clinic down the street, or the waste treatment plant that makes your water safer to drink. But people who know about riders and pork spending know that riders are distinct from pork barrel spending. Riders are not even voted on by Congress and not signed in by the President. The language in the riders doesn't even rise to meet constitutional standards so they can't be in included in the legislation, they end up as memos to the executive branch which recommend where and how to spend the money. For reference on riders see http://2partyreform.blogspot.com/2008/01/truth-about-riders-aka-congressional.html . If the spending in riders is truly necessary and beneficial then they need to be part of the appropriations bills which are vvoted on by Congress and signed by the President. Clear and simple. Beyond the issue of riders is the issue of pork barrel spending in general. For instance The North Shore Connector, now being built in Pittsburgh is a result of so called vital federal spending, one which was a part of the 2007 Bush Budget voted into law by Congress. The Fed contributed 348 million dollars for an underground pedestrian tunnel which goes just across the Allegheny River to PNC Park. The price tag jumped to 435 million in one month from it's annoucement. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07045/761908-53.stm 435 Million dollars for an underground tunnel when we already have an above ground pedestrian bridge which allows people to walk across the Allegheny River. It is a pork project in which the region would either be able to spend the money on that specific project or lose it! This is exactly what's wrong with the federal government as well as the mentality of government in general.

More sources and quotes about the Fed and the North Shore Connector:

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-12660169_ITM
Fighting congestion on America's roadways is the goal of a massive new investment in subway, light rail and commuter rail projects, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, who today announced a plan to spend $1.5 billion on transit programs in cities like Dallas, Denver, Portland and Salt Lake City.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07045/761908-53.stm
The overall price tag has increased from $363 million to $435 million, she said. The federal government is paying 80 percent of the cost, or $348 million.
Under the plan, $355 million is available for two projects in New York City and Pittsburgh that are pending execution of FFGAs this year

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