'Pig book' puts pet spending in spotlight

CAGW's focus on what might seem outlandish or superfluous spending projects partly diverts attention from the far bigger and politically sacrosanct programs such as Medicare that are on “automatic pilot.”

“They’re missing the boat,” said Joseph Antos, a former official at the Congressional Budget Office, of the CAGW study. Antos is now a fiscal analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington think tank. “But so are the senators and congressmen who complain about this ('pork') spending. This is chicken feed compared to the big entitlements.”

The other constant in the annual "Pig Book" ritual is that many, if not most, of the projects detailed in CAGW’s inventory are not the oddball and obscure such as the Lobster Institute, but the everyday meat-and-potatoes operations of state and municipal governments, such as local bus systems or low-income housing programs for older people.

Earmarks took on a bad reputation after Rep. Randy Cunningham, R- Calif. pleaded guilty in 2005 to tax evasion and taking bribes from contractors, including the former president of a firm for which Cunningham had earmarked a defense spending project.

Cunningham is now serving his sentence at the federal prison in Tucson and is scheduled to be released in 2013.

Debating the case for earmarks
One argument against earmarks is that the taxpayers of Tennessee and Texas shouldn’t be required to spend money on construction of low-income housing for senior citizens in Willington, Conn., or for streetscape improvements for North Main Street in Enfield, Conn.

Some critics contend that if the people in Willington or Enfield really wanted those projects, they could have imposed higher local and state taxes on themselves to pay for them.

But Rep. Joe Courtney, D- Conn., who is credited with the Willington and Enfield spending items in this year's CAGW study, said, “This new Congress has dramatically improved the scrutiny and transparency of the appropriations process after years of abuse by previous Republican-controlled Congresses."

He added, "Congressional oversight and direction of some Federal spending projects continue to be important because Members of Congress work with local leaders and can often understand local priorities better than federal agencies in Washington, D.C. Whether in eastern Connecticut or southern Louisiana, these investments are important to our economy and help address the huge unmet infrastructure needs of this nation.”

More from msnbc.com Bank bailout will cost taxpayers billions Red Tape: Times are tough — even for cybercriminals Decking the hall? Watch out for dangers   Slideshow: The making of SpaceShipTwo Giving back for the holiday season? Tell us how On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM CAPITOL HILL

Capitol Hill Section Front

Senate to confront abortion in health debate Political strife over abortion Reid tasks 10 senators to find public option fix Low turnout predicted for Mass. Senate vote Senate votes on Medicare in Saturday session Timber program becomes vast entitlement Deals cut on health bill may be at peril Baucus defends nominating girlfriend for post Senate preserves long-term care program Fed chief, under assault, defends his record Capitol Hill Section Front   Add Capitol Hill headlines to your news reader: