Porker of the Year
2007 Porker of the Year Winner!
DC Office Phone:
202-225-2065
Fax: 202-225-5709
http://www.house.gov/murtha
Email Form
Rep. John ‘Jack’ Murtha (D-Pa.)
House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chair
FY 2008 Pork: 72 projects worth $149.2 million
Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) announced the final results of its online poll for the 2007 Porker of the Year. Rep. John “Jack” Murtha (D-Pa.) won in a landslide victory, receiving 63.4 percent of the vote. A distant second, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) received 10.6 percent, while Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) came in with 9.9 percent, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) had 6.7 percent, and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) both finished up with 4.1 percent. The finalists were chosen by CAGW staff from among the 12 Porker of the Month winners for 2007.
Rep. Jack Murtha has long been known inside the Beltway for using threats, power plays, and backroom deals to control spending decisions. There is an area of the House floor known as “Murtha’s Corner,” where the legendary appropriator dispenses earmarks. The overwhelming vote for Porker of the Year vote shows that his shameful behavior is attracting attention throughout the country. The congressman inserts pork whenever he can to serve himself and his district. In fiscal year 2008, he brought home 72 pork projects worth $149.2 million.
The House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman was named May Porker of the Month for throwing a temper tantrum and threatening his colleagues over a challenge to the $23 million earmark for the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) in Johnstown, Pa. in the Intelligence Authorization Act. In 2006, the House Government Reform Committee called the NDIC “an expensive and duplicative use of scarce federal drug enforcement resources.”
Rep. Murtha became infuriated by Rep. Mike Rogers’ (R-Mich.) motion to remove the NDIC earmark. According to Rogers, Rep. Murtha warned, “I hope you don’t have any earmarks in the defense appropriations bills because they are gone and you will not get any earmarks now and forever. … That’s the way I do it!” Rep. Murtha also threatened a Boeing project in Rep. Todd Tiahrt’s (R-Kan.) district after he voted with Rep. Rogers.
Murtha violated House ethics rules by both failing to submit his required earmark certification for the NDIC in a timely manner and threatening to block the earmarks of those who voted against his project. A privileged resolution seeking a formal reprimand of Murtha was killed on a 219-189 party line vote.
His outburst was not an isolated incident. Rep. Murtha also purposefully put up roadblocks and barriers to hinder earmark accountability and reform. According to an October 2007 issue of Congressional Quarterly Weekly, Rep. Murtha’s response to a reporter’s inquiry regarding the difficulty of matching up earmark information in appropriations bills was: “So, you have to work. Tough [expletive].” The House Appropriation Committee included earmarks in its reports but they were unsearchable and the lists were difficult to read.
For flouting the rules and playing games with reform, while filling spending bills with pork and arrogantly threatening anyone that challenges his authority, Rep. Jack Murtha is the 2007 Porker of the Year.
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2007 Porker of the Year Nominees |
| The six finalists were chosen by CAGW staff from among the Porkers of the Month for 2007 |
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Wow! You know these six must be really big porkers when the King of Pork himself, Robert Byrd from WV doesn’t even rate on this list!
Can we write-in President Bush, for signing every bill that crosses his desk?
When people like Michael Moore say that Americans are stupid. People like Burke only prove him right. Hate him or love him, everyone wants to blame Bush for just about everything. Every American needs to pick up a book on how the US Government works and who is responsible for what. Spending is done by the Congress, the Pres can make requests. But the Congress puts it all together. The Congress is what has put this country in debt, not Bush. Take a look at all of the states that run huge deficits and you will find that a majority of them if not all of them are run by democrates. California which has one of the worlds largest economies by itself is about to go down the tubes cause of all of the dems that are running it are chasing all of the buseness’ out of the state so they can give all of the money to the poor and the illegals.
Brian-
Bush has used his veto power (yes, Brian, there is a veto power) less than any president since Warren Harding. There’s nothing stupid about asking for some accountability from the man who ultimately approves Congressional spending bills.
[...] Porker of the Year [...]
[...] Ted Kennedy is not to be considered, due to some form of double jeopardy… Take time to vote HERE. Explore posts in the same categories: Blog [...]
Burke-
I understand what you are trying to say, that Bush shares in the blame. Your flanking maneuver is somewhat transparent and understandably so because the list is lopsided with democrats, as is typical. I wonder how the bills would look after the Bush administration got through with them if they had Line Item Veto power? And another thought along the lines of “can’t we all just get along”. Remember Newt taking a stand against pork? What did the press do to him?
Can we write in Burke, for not having a clue. There’s six names to choose from, pick one. Bush is in office, now get over it..
[...] best news, though, is that you - the larded constituent - can vote in support of Shelby. He’ll need your support; the competition is tough with legislators including Jack Murtha [...]
Could you imagine what would happen if Bush did veto the spending bills that came across his desk? He would be called everyname in the book, and labeled as someone who doesn’t care about providing funding to America’s youth or whatever. The matter of the fact is that THERE IS NO LINE ITEM VETO to curtail some of this massive, ridiculous spending. What Congress has failed to do, and failed miserably, is to realize that it’s NOT THEIR MONEY. It’s the taxpayers money!!!
[...] Porker of the Year [...]
[...] http://swineline.org/porkeroftheyear/ [...]
I get furious when congress says they had to cut veteran programs when they’re spending this much money on earmarks. I’m offended by the democratic party wanting to raise taxes so they can continue this kind of reckless spending. We could cure the budget problems by cutting out all earmarks for 2 years. I think Murtha should win because I’ve heard some of his earmarks have been given to his son’s company. In fact, I think there is a ethical issue there with Murtha getting earmarks for family members.
Lonnie
I know people like Burke. If the sun doesn’t shine - it’s Bush’s fault. Sad little people.
What a shame everybody assumes it is bush’s fault if you recall he did veto the defense bill twice and then congress blaims him for not taking care of the troops but in reality congress is the one in control of the purse strings people always assume the democrats the are for the poor but in reality there personal fortunes are more than the republicans they are all about themselves they (democrats) assume that we (poor) need their help to get on our feet when in reality what the poor need is a kick in the butt to realize we have to help ourselves we elect our representatives so if we are not happy with them we need to elect new officals.
What is Don Young on this list for? 17M not even close to the others on here, smells like revenge to me.
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed frequently and for the same reason.
[...] Porker of the Year [...]
What do you say about all tax-payers getting together and letting congress know that taking home the pork is not cool anymore? Maybe we could all start a movement that would allow the tax-payer to vote on their pork projects. What do you think?
WE WERE TOLD THAT ABOUT 10,000 EARMARKS WERE IN A RECENT BILL SIGNED BY THE PRESODENT.
WE ASKED CAGW FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF THE SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES WHO SPONSORED THOSE EARMARKS SO WE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
BUT CAGW DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST.
IF CAGW IS A CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATION WHY WILL YOU NOT HELP VOTERS HOLD THESE CLOWNS RESPONSIBLE?
I don’t know who you contacted within our organization and I apologize that no one followed up, but at this time we do not have a complete list of the Senators and Representatives who sponsored the earmarks. We are currently working on putting together a comprehensive and searchable database. In the meantime, you can look through this listing of all the earmarks: http://demint.senate.gov/public/_files/2007-12-17_OmniEarmarkCharts.pdf
CAGW is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization.
[...] Porker of the Year [...]
I live in MIssissippi we really need some help with our laws for open government info and accountability . these good old boys down here make it hard for a concerned citizen to find out what there up to. Ark, is just across the river, RAZORBACK country SUE WEEEE PIG!!! must mention Blanch LIncoln she comes in mighty close,(but Jack Murtha gets my vote) if he’s against accountability that guys really!!!!!!! got something to hide! If i’m not mistaken doesn’t he get lots of earmarks for gun,tanks,etc!!! The lobbiest that dont want the war to end must love him. BIG MONEY
[...] + 2007 Porker of the Year Winner! [...]
May I nominate Barack Obama? His Church is Trinity United Church of Christ. It’s vision as stated in the church site is as follows:
About Us
We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian… Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain “true to our native land,” the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.
The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:
A congregation committed to ADORATION.
A congregation preaching SALVATION.
A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.
A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.
A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.
A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.
A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.
A congregation committed to LIBERATION.
A congregation committed to RESTORATION.
A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.
Body Armor or Pork? What will it be Rep. Murtha? What will you sacrifice to defeat terrorism? A new project for your district, or the lives of Americans?
Murtha! I’ll bet you took a lot of crap with a prissy name like that when you were a kid. What do I mean when you were a kid? Hell, you still are a kid you little pork belly. You put me in mind of Eric Cartman on the cartoon South Park. If widdle Murtha doesn’t get his way, he either sits and obsesses about how he’s going to get revenge or he just turns up his widdle piggy nose and says, “&uck you guys, I’m going home” What goes around comes around Porky. You’d better watch that big fat pimply backside of yours Johnny. I’m sure the Republicans have painted a nice big fat bullseye on that big fat backside of yours and if John McCain gets elected President, you’d better find a nice big fat whole to hide in Porky!
too bad none of these porkers are in my area so i could have the pleasure of voting against them.