Pork in the Debt Deal

The bill to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling included a considerable amount of pork. “The five most surprising provisions in the debt deal” are: a river project, flood recovery funds, late senator’s widow, other winners, and same pay for congress. The river project is a dam and locks on the Ohio River that “flows through Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell’s home state of Kentucky” which will cost $2.2 Billion. The flood recovery funds will receive $450 million for rebuilding projects in Colorado which surpasses the limit of “$100 million for the Department of Transportation as allowed in the Disaster Relief Appropriation Act.” Some believe it is unnecessary to give Senator Frank Lautenberg’s widow a death benefit of a year’s worth salary of $174,000 when he had $59 million as of 2011. Other agencies received more money like agencies that fight fires that can now get as much as $636 million. Unfortunately for members of congress, they do not get a raise, maybe because they are making $174,000 a year.   

            I agree with Republican senator John McCain who said, “It shows that there are people in this body who are willing to use any occasion to get an outrageous pork-barrel project done at the cost of millions of dollars. It’s disgusting.” As much as we pork- Barrel projects they are part of our politics and they are not going anywhere. Congress men’s goal is to be reelected and they will do anything keep their job. Now senator McConnell can say to his constituents, “I fought for the $2.2 million to finish the dam and locks.” Well senator McConnell is defiantly using his incumbency advantages. I think the window should receive the money however; she should donate the $147,000 to some nonprofit organization. Members of congress are asking for a raise when they shut the government, it is unbelievable.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/17/politics/new-debt-deal-pork/